A $1.94 million redevelopment of the popular Waurn Ponds Skate Park is now complete, making it a destination for skate and other wheeled sport enthusiasts.
Informed by two rounds of community consultation in 2021, the skate park upgrade design retained and improved popular elements of the former skate park, such as the park’s “Snake Run” bowl, “Drain” area and iconic steel halfpipe, while incorporating a new space to create better connections between site skate and play elements.
The facility now includes:
- a new street drain area
- a new snake run bowl
- improved street plaza
- a youth active recreation area with various activity options
- an additional shade structure and seating areas
- a new smart node that hosts a range of digital infrastructure.
Expert skate park and youth space designers Convic developed the plans for the upgrade based on input from the local skate community.
For the construction of the skate park, the City contracted Concrete Skate Parks, whose founder, owner, designer, engineer and builder is a passionate skateboarder with a strong engineering background.
To commemorate this significant outcome, the Hon. Ros Spence, Minister for Community Sport, Mayor Trent Sullivan, Kardinia Ward Councillors Ron Nelson and Belinda Moloney, and Member for South Barwon Darren Cheeseman MP came together today to officially open the skate park.
The upgrade was made possible thanks to a $600,000 investment by the City of Greater Geelong and $1.34 million from the Victorian Government through its Sport and Recreation Victoria Community Sport Stimulus Infrastructure Grant Program.
Funding towards the smart node came from a wider grant through the Victorian Government’s Connecting Regional Communities Program.
Construction on the redeveloped Waurn Ponds Skate Park commenced in August 2022.
The City is seeking feedback on the completed works via a Waurn Ponds Skate Park survey.
Background
The Waurn Ponds skate park has a history of attracting skaters from far and wide, including Tony Hawk, the American professional skateboarder, who visited to ride the steel halfpipe in 1999.
During his demonstration in front of a large crowd, Tony Hawk successfully landed a transfer air from the large vertical ramp to the spine ramp. The footage of which appeared in the introduction video to the Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 video game that was released in 2000.
Mr Cheeseman MP
The upgrades to Waurn Ponds Skate Park mean more members of the local community can get active and enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits that come from taking part in sport and active recreation.
Councillor Nelson
Waurn Ponds Skate Park has been a key recreation and social space for many Geelong residents.
I know first-hand the value this facility has for young people, so it’s fantastic we’ve been able to give it a new lease on life.
The site had built a reputation as one of the best outdoor skate parks in Australia, and this revitalisation will ensure it caters to a new generation of users.
Councillor Moloney
Being close to the shops, pool and cinemas, the skate park is a key recreational and social space for young people across Waurn Ponds and surrounding suburbs.
People from all backgrounds, genders and levels, from beginners to future Olympians should feel at home using the Waurn Ponds Skate Park. Whether you’re just starting or reaching for the Olympics, we believe this skate park will support your journey.
