Fundraising campaign launched to improve Stourbridge skate park - with video
Money raised for a skate and bike park will help maintain its facilities for future generations, its boss has said.
A £5,000 fundraising campaign has been launched for Unit3Sixty skate park, which opened on Mill Race Lane in Stourbridge three years ago.
Watch the video here:
Boss Gavin Pardoe said the money will go to repairing parts of the park, including the top of some of the wooden skate ramps. He said: "We have this great skate park for young people in Stourbridge.
"We started it because there used to be one around 10 years ago where the Tesco now stands but it was demolished. Now we want to maintain the skate park and have the money to make the needed repairs. We do not get any regular funding from authorities, so to keep the costs down for the users we must find money for repairs." The skate park, which is used by around 500 people a week, was set up in 2014 by Gavin and his wife, Serena.
The facility has previously received grants, including funding through the National Lottery and Sport England.
But now the pair are calling on the community to help with the maintenance and necessary repairs.
Gavin added: "We're in our third year now and the only other way of funding the repairs is to increase the price of the entry fee, which we don't want to do.
"The crowd funder means people can donate as little as they want to help with the upkeep." The 43-year-old added: "The skate park provides an alternative sport for children and young people, rather than sport that's part of the curriculum in schools.
"It's free-style too and there's no set rules meaning people can ride their bikes, get on their scooters or use their skateboard."
The Black Country skateboard competition and UK BMX series have been previously hosted at the facility.
The fundraising campaign is being run online and the amount raised so far is £115.
Visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/repair-maintenance-modernisation-and-improvement
