Shepparton skateboarders and BMX riders are calling for better skate park facilities, with an online petition gaining traction.
BMX rider Jack McCarty is collecting signatures in support of an upgrade of Shepparton’s skate park at Victoria Park Lake or for a new one to be built.
The 28-year-old travels from the Tatura area every day after work to use the park and has been in contact with Greater Shepparton City Council about getting it improved for 12 months.
“For the population of Shepparton we have a very average skate park,” Mr McCarty said.
“It’s outdated and we need something to suit this day and age.”
The Shepparton skate park was completed in December 2001.
As well as the size of the park, Mr McCarty said the biggest ramp, at 1.8m (six feet) tall, was smaller than those at other parks.
As an example, he pointed to the new $3.6 million skate park in Albury, which features two skate bowls for beginners and advanced, a street skating section and small pump track.
Council’s director of infrastructure Gary Randhawa said council was aware of the petition.
He said a new skate park had not been identified as a priority by the community as part of the Victoria Park Lake masterplan.
“However, flood lighting will be installed in and around the skate park in the future following community submissions during the 2021-22 budget process,” he said.
Shepparton’s Dandy’s Skateboards owner Andrew Maiorana supports the petition and said there was a community of skaters in their 20s to 30s who had been using the skate park since it opened.
“It’s an escape for us all,” he said.
“It’s an awesome park but as a community we’ve definitely outgrown it and it’s starting to get overcrowded.”
He said the older users of the park were concerned about collisions with children or beginners lacking awareness of others and said an upgrade or second park was “overdue”.
“With skateboarding and BMX in the Olympics, there’s not that stigma around it anymore,” Mr Maiorana said.
“The council’s definitely missing an opportunity.”
To find out more about the petition visit www.change.org/p/upgrade-shepparton-skatepark-or-make-a-new-one