SKATEBOARD fans of all ages teamed up in the shadow of the Mancunian Way in a bid to land a bigger skatepark for the city.
The gathering at the Manchester Skatepark was designed to show authorities how much support there is for an extension that would allow hundreds more enthusiasts to hone their tricks and skills.
An application for é200,000 from the government's Youth Capital Fund is expected to be sent off within the next two weeks - along with a video of Saturday's events.
Officials are hoping to secure the funds which would allow them to extend the park and incorporate cafés, `chill-out areas' and spaces for shops.
Park manager John Haines, 26, believes the plans are more than just pipe dreams.
He said: "It's a hugely popular sport in Manchester and our park is one of the best in the country.
"We attract visitors from all over Britain and if we want to accommodate everyone, we have to expand."
The former Manchester University student claimed that about 100 people use the park each day and added: "We know how important skateboarding is to thousands of youngsters in Manchester - now we need to show it."
'Vital resource'
He was joined at the event by one of the oldest visitors to the park - special needs teacher Axel Bottenburg, 45, from Levenshulme.
He believes that the park near Piccadilly Station, is `a vital resource'.
"I see kids here who are motivated, committed and full of enthusiasm," he said.
"It brings that out of them in ways a school can't. By learning new tricks and making mistakes, the kids who use the park are picking up lifeskills. I came here with my 12-year-old son two years ago and gave it a try and I've been hooked ever since.
"It's a fantastic asset to the city and provides a service to children I think would be lost to society without it. The park needs extending so more people can take advantage of it."
Dan Cleare, 17, from Swinton, is heading the application.
The Pendleton college student said that he was `confident' about the chances of securing the funds and added that they were much-needed.
"Manchester is the skating capital of the north," he said.
"But although this is a great park, it's just not big enough - and hopefully today's events will show that," he said.
LEARN more about Manchester's skateparks from the council website.
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Ace(Brian)Riley, manchester (12/02/2007 at 10:58)
marc, manchester (12/02/2007 at 12:07)
Mike, Salford (12/02/2007 at 12:33)
I would support this idea and for the money if it kept them off the main streets and car parks in the city centre.
Andy, Wythenshawe (12/02/2007 at 13:10)
Boarding hits highs and lows, they should build an arena that multi use, so it can interchange from a skate park to concert arena ... it can be done,and i support it.
Ace(Brian)Riley, manchester (12/02/2007 at 14:28)
Full agreement mate like you have pointed out it comes and goes ,its a fashion (fad) just like those fold up scooters rollerblades,space hoppers,You name it it comes and goes but to spend a lot of money on something that could last a few months or even years is not good use of ratepayers money? I remember all the fuss with CB radio people were up in arms that this would replace the phones and people had the right to free speech(CB) we had clubs rallies meetings it was going to last ? within two years that was it nobody bothered anymore?? fads and fashions..Dont build your future on fads.
F, Manchetser (12/02/2007 at 15:23)
Before you scorn about the activites of the "yoofs" you seem to fear, remember that it is parks like these which provide young people with the opportunity to get cardio-vascular exercise, a chance to get off the streets, make friends and avoid a life of crime.
What on earth can be wrong with that? It is not these kids who are mugging old ladies - these kids just want somewhere to spend their saturdays and have a chance at perfecting their skills - especially seeing as it's you people who opose them using the streets for the purpose
Ace(Brian)Riley, manchester (12/02/2007 at 15:55)
Just like my local park with new basket ball courts and five aside football pitch . ive never seen many youths getting cardio vascular exercise very often? the most i see are kids having a kickabout outside peoples homes when 70/80 yards away is a safe football field? so much for using amenaties?Infact ive never seen anybody in the par on skateboards?? i see loads being thrown out of the city centre for knackering stairs and other stonework???
Ace(Brian)Riley, manchester (12/02/2007 at 16:25)
F, Manchetser (12/02/2007 at 17:23)
Perhaps the reason there are no skaters on the football/basketball pitch seems self-explanatory to me!
I don't know why a commercial company hasn't opened a place up - perhaps because many kids can't get to a major regional skatepark so sadly it falls to the kids themselves themselves to fight against grumpy has-beens such as yourself to get the facilities!
And your turn-around in argument to actually encouraging these kids to set a park up themselves is admirable to read - but how can they raise the cash for rent as well as construction costs when, as you said, football players get them for free! Unless you're willing to sponsor them!?
Ace(Brian)Riley, manchester (12/02/2007 at 19:49)
Ive never actually said my real name was "Ace "Ive always been known as ace for years so really in law you can actually be legally called by a name if you are actually known by that name . But that wasnt the question? The reason why people have free footbal parks are "Its one of our national games the other is cricket" So i would think until we get a national skateboarding champion,you will not see all parks Ect setting up skateboard parks (weve had football for over a century perhaps after skateboarding has been established for 40 years maybe then something will be done.But you cannot expect ratepayers to pay for things just on a fad or a whim.Sorry but if all you skateboarders want a park ,ask one of your world champion boarders to finance a park? they should have millions in sponsorship ? if its that big.
marc, manchester (13/02/2007 at 10:06)
Dan, Manchester (13/02/2007 at 19:38)
The ace detective, Manchester (19/02/2007 at 16:43)
jean, manchester (25/02/2007 at 00:25)
lets congratulate young people for taking the initiative to help themselves not put them down