Description

The Eildon Skatepark and Pump Track has been designed as a space for all whether its the young female who is just starting on a bike/scooter, more advanced skateboarders, socialising youth to spectating parents. It ensures a space that caters for beginners with lower level elements to those that will inevitably quickly progress with more advanced/higher elements.

The overall space has been designed to respond to the central site, celebrating its access and connections to various communities facilities throughout the town. Further encouraging activation from both passive and active users. The sweeping path is utilised for not only access but due to its elevated position it allows views over the entire space whilst offering several refuge areas with seating to cater for spectators and resting active users in addition allowing the provision for shelters. The built space has minimal impact on the site by shaping itself with the existing topography, connections to the adjoining basketball court and maintaining the existing vegetation.

The skatepark features all the elements to keep ongoing participation whilst ensuring it adheres to ‘less is more’ to not create tight spaces and impediment between users. One of the main focuses (and focal points) will be the intermediate level bowl, designed to offer homage to the original mini ramp. Complimenting the bowl is a variety of street and flow elements that utilise the shifting site levels to allow flow between all. These include a central funbox with rails and ledges, transition/banked walls, slappy kerbs and transition ends of varying heights to allow back and forth flow. Importantly it offers elements that are different to surrounding skateparks.

To ensure even more diversity of the park accompanying pump tracks are connected to the skatepark, including a beginner one and a more experienced track with intermediate and advanced level lines. The latter includes jump boxes as requested by the local users. The overall layout of the tracks will ensure ongoing interest along with the ability to connect between each. A shared platform with the skatepark allows users to maintain flow through the entire track.