Our community have been campaigning for a new skatepark at Swanley Rec and we need your help to make it happen! We want to start this exciting project by building a beginners' miniramp section - creating a safe space for younger, less experienced riders to learn how to drop in and perform basic lip tricks. Separated from the main facility it will provide an inclusive and welcoming space for all to enjoy! Sports like skating help alleviate the pressures of covid by providing space for physical and mental release. There is a huge amount of support for this project from all councils, local users, local community, businesses, police, schools and everyone in Swanley.  We want to build a skatepark that has people coming from all over to skate/scoot and provides an inclusive and fun place for everyone to come and enjoy the activity with friends and family while socialising with the wider community. We are hoping to work with the surrounding schools as part of our community engagement.

What we'll deliver:

• New miniramp for the skatepark
• Skateboarding and scooter competitions
• Fundraising days

Why it's a great idea:

Post-Covid children especially need a safe outlet for their physical and mental needs. With Swanley being high on the social deprivation scale it is essential that this project succeeds to give the local community all the facilities they need. Increased social inclusion for all kids Increased physical and mental outlets to help with healthcare issues in society Socialisation - a place for all people to come and skate, play, chat and learn Kids will learn to get up when they fall, an important life lesson. Increased footfall to Swanley increasing economic possibilities for local shops Increased competitions and activities for local community Increased community engagement helping with social issues Less violence and crime Increased options in local area as currently people will go to Dartford or Gravesend instead https://news.usc.edu/159248/skateboarding-culture-usc-research-school-life-success/

Steps to get it done:

• ENGAGE SKATEPARK BUILDER AND DESIGN AND DELIVER NEW PARK WITH USERS
• CONSULT LOCAL SCHOOLS ON SKATEPARK DESIGN
• CONSULT LOCAL SKATERS TO WORK WITH MAVERICK
• SET UP LOCAL ACTIVITY GROUP TO RUN CLASSES ON PARKS AND EVENTS
• SET UP COMPETITIONS FOR SKATING, BMX AND SCOOTING

CW Group wants to build a fully inclusive skateboarding hub that brings everyone in to experience a community feeling by participating, providing or watching the activities on the skatepark. We firmly believe that this project will give all locals something to shout about and be proud of and with 100% of the project and fundraising going towards making it amazing we are confident it will be a huge success. With this we know that after over a year of the most intense living conditions for everyone, that having a new facility like this in St Marys ward will help the people of Swanley improve their physical, mental and social wellbeing. increased cardio workouts and mental agility from skateboarding and having a social network at the park will be a massive help for kids mainly but anyone who wants to get stuck in. Finally we aim to get the local community involved by volunteering to help run activity courses on the skatepark, pick up litter around the park and the maintenance of the park