Marple Skatepark Fund-raising target of £100,000 Reached!

[admin]

Final Stage of Marple Skatepark Phase II approaching

The long-awaited fencing materials for the completion of the upgrade of the basketball court in Marple Memorial Park to create a Multi-User Games facility have finally been delivered.

The sports area materials were delayed by a factory closure caused by the Covid19 pandemic but they are here at last and work is expected to start next week commencing 19th October and be completed by the end of that week.

This final stage of Marple Skatepark Phase 2 will include construction of 5-a-side goals, new basketball hoops and marking out of the playing courts. There will be a spectator fence along the top side of the court too.

Once everything is finished Friends of the Park plan to assess the dynamics of the whole area with the council and talk to them about re-siting litter bins.

[nbt]

They use the bus some of them .

I'm sure some do, but not all. Equally, many are dropped off by parents in cars, but neither of these are valid reasons to oppose safer cycling routes

Perhaps parent drop their kids off as they're worried about how safe their children are when cycling  to and from the skatepark. Perhaps those who get the bus do so for the same reason, and they'd prefer to ride. Safe cycling routes would enable this.

[amazon]

It is great to see his heading to completion, but what needs consideration now is how will the skate-boarders and BMX cycle riders get there safely?

There is Cycling UK Web site  https://www.cyclinguk.org/covid-19-safe-space-social-distancing#WMP  that aims to try to persuade Local Councils ro make cycling and walking safer, primarily to cater for the current "social distancing" proposals, however it is an opportunity to point out all the problem areas there are for getting around Marple if you don't use a car..

So if you think the Skatepark Users may have a problem getting there then please use the facility and let the Council know.

They use the bus some of them .

[CTCREP]

It is great to see his heading to completion, but what needs consideration now is how will the skate-boarders and BMX cycle riders get there safely?

There is Cycling UK Web site  https://www.cyclinguk.org/covid-19-safe-space-social-distancing#WMP  that aims to try to persuade Local Councils ro make cycling and walking safer, primarily to cater for the current "social distancing" proposals, however it is an opportunity to point out all the problem areas there are for getting around Marple if you don't use a car..

So if you think the Skatepark Users may have a problem getting there then please use the facility and let the Council know.

[admin]

Marple Skatepark is Reopening

We're pleased to advise that the Phase II upgrade to Marple Skatepark has been approved by RoSPA and they are happy for the skatepark to reopen, as are the council.

The herras fencing should be coming down today, possibly even as you read this.

As we've mentioned before, although the former basketball area area has been resurfaced there is a long wait for the sports fencing that we need to complete the conversion to a MUGA. This is expected in September, so the area will remain as it is until then.

Other works still to do include the fitting of railings to the back of the new ramp on the top section, and repainting of the vertical surfaces throughout the whole skatepark. We expect these things to happen during week commencing 29 June.

We hope users enjoy what we've achieved and we're sorry that we can't have a formal relaunch at the present time.

Please use the facilities safely and considerately and put your litter in the bins provided or take it home.

[admin]

Good to see progress on this, Mark. I doubt there's much that can be done about it, but when walking the dog in the evening, I regularly see skaters on the lower park. I'm assuming that they have just pushed the fencing aside. Are they likely to cause any problems for the new section?

Sadly they never seem able to wait Howard. As usual it only takes one or two then the rest flood in. Speaking to the constructors this time and last time, they say it's a universal problem. Knowing this they have to construction things in a sequence (usually ramps first then selected slabs in-between) to reduce the ability for the park to be used easily until towards the end of the build. They also try to leave the works at the end of the day in a condition that is not likely to lead to it being damage overnight or over-weekend. Probably more likely is someone injuring themselves on a sticking out reinforcement rod or similar.

Despite the futility of it, I've reported to the council that the fencing has been breached and I presume they will do something about it.

[amazon]

Good to see progress on this, Mark. I doubt there's much that can be done about it, but when walking the dog in the evening, I regularly see skaters on the lower park. I'm assuming that they have just pushed the fencing aside. Are they likely to cause any problems for the new section?

Walked past this afternoon one of the fences was completly open the one near were they have laid the track .no one working .there

[Howard]

Good to see progress on this, Mark. I doubt there's much that can be done about it, but when walking the dog in the evening, I regularly see skaters on the lower park. I'm assuming that they have just pushed the fencing aside. Are they likely to cause any problems for the new section?

[admin]

Latest news and updates on Marple Skatepark Phase II.....

Below are a few photos of recent progress on the skatepark top section refurbishment.

We can also now give you a bit of an update on how the project is expected to continue over the next few weeks.

It has been confirmed that the fencing materials we need to complete the conversion of the basketball court to a MUGA have been delayed due to Covid19 and are on a 12 week delivery, which takes them out to around September 2020.

It has therefore been decided to proceed with the preparation and resurfacing works as far as possible now and then the contractor will return to install the fencing when it is available and then finish off by marking out the playing courts.

So, barring any unforeseen problems, we expect the skatepark top section to be completed some time next week and the basketball court refurbishment to commence straight away.

The skatepark will remain fenced off and closed until the basketball resurfacing works are completed too. We expect this to be towards the end of June.

Please note that reopening of the whole facility will be a council decision and will also depend on the Covid19 situation at the time as well as the completion of the works.

As usual, keep an eye on this page for the latest news, which we will share as and when we have something new.

[admin]

Marple Skatepark Phase II status at end of May...

[admin]

Marple Skatepark Phase II refurbishment coming along nicely.

Some progress shots taken over the last few days.

[admin]

So work is finally underway on the Phase II refurbishment of Marple Skatepark top section.

Here are a few "before" shots from early this morning and an "in progress" from Lewis this afternoon.

[admin]

Marple Skatepark Phase II to start on site next week!

Friends of Memorial Park are delighted to announce that following this week's easing of Covid-19 restrictions, and after careful consideration by Stockport Council and contractor Canvas Spaces, Marple Skatepark Phase II construction works will commence early next week and last for approximately 6 weeks.

Refurbishment of the top section of the skatepark can go ahead now that plans and procedures for the delivery of the works have been revised to ensure measures are in place to reduce the risk of transmission of Covid-19.

As explained before our start in April was put on hold, activity will commence with a track being laid across the park for heavy traffic and access to the works compound, which will be on the basketball court like it was during phase I. The track will cause some obstruction to park users but is essential to protect tarmac and grass from damage by heavy machinery.

Under the current circumstances and restrictions the whole of the skatepark will remain closed.

At present exact timing of the follow-on works to refurbish the basketball court and turn it into a Multi-User-GAmes Facility is uncertain, primarily due to issues around material supply.

We will make further announcements whenever we have firm information to share with you.

[admin]

Marple Skatepark Phase II on hold

We thought we'd overcome all the hurdles in the way of constructing Marple Skatepark Phase II but following the PM's announcement on Monday we can confirm that the construction start scheduled for 6 April is now on hold.

Watch this space for more news.........

Stay safe, stay at home, save lives! We'll be back!

PS: If you read the footnote of the article linked in the post below you'll see I sort of anticipated this. At least it's stopped raining for a bit!

[admin]

Marple Skatepark Phase II to start April 2020.

Read the full story on the Marple Website:

https://www.marple.website/community-projects/marple-skatepark-phase-ii.html