Dersingham skatepark official opening sees dream become reality
The cutting of the ribbon to mark the official opening of the skatepark on the recreation ground in Dersingham village took place at the weekend.
Many youngsters have been utilising the finished skatepark daily and it is an asset that has been petitioned hard for by members of the village community who saw the need for it to give the young people a place to go and enjoy and show their talent with tricks and flips.
Indeed young villagers got out and fundraised to build it with a sponsored scooter run.
In the light of the Olympics and Sky Brown winning bronze for Team GB, skate boarding and scooters are in the spotlight.
Coral Shepherd chair of Dersingham Parish Council said: "It is a privilege and pleasure on behalf of the parish council to welcome everyone, I am thrilled to see the formal opening and how important this skatepark is to the young people.
"A big thank you to deputy mayor Lesley Bambridge, Stuart Dack and the funds from Alan Watling and to those who have worked tirelessly.
"It’s been several years in planning since the wooden skate ramp was demolished and I remember a young Joe Hipkin coming along to a parish council meeting to ask for a skatepark. The dream is now a reality and I thank people for their patience in waiting to open the skatepark and realising the dream.
"A huge thank you to Kirsty Hipkin and Emma Dinmore who have played a key part of the working group and without their constant enthusiasm we would not be standing here today. Generous grants have meant it is a dream come true for the village.
"It will make a real difference and maybe one day we will be cheering on an Olympic champion."
Lesley Bambridge, deputy mayor said: ”I used to live in Dersingham and I might be tempted to have a go on it. It is absolutely fantastic. The bronze medallist Sky Brown had a skatepark at her nursery school, so she started young and learnt on You Tube. Dersingham is so lucky to have this and it has helped made me see what we could do in King’s Lynn”
Joe Hipkin, 13, is a scooter rider and he helped cut the ribbon with the deputy mayor and he said: “It’s been so long and it is nice to have something to do, there is nothing else for my age to do in the village. I can learn and have fun, like Coral said people scootering may be in the Olympics. I am very happy it is here.”
Kirsty Hipkin who is Joe’s mum and a key petitioner for the skate park said:” I have championed this from the beginning to prove there is a need, we had to arrange petitions for the kids to sign and fundraising to raise awareness. Kids are coming here from Snettisham and Heacham and not one of them is using a computer screen.”
Russel Heideman who is a skateboarder himself and works for Canvas Spaces, the design and construction team that built the park over the course of eight weeks, said;” I worked on the design and build and the construction and I get to use it.
Seeing today all the smiles and the diversity of age and gender is great. There is an unwritten hierarchy using the skatepark and everyone looks out for each other, and waits their turn. It teaches persistence and trying. Keep trying over and over again.”
Colin Hipkin, Joe’s dad said: ”It goes to show that there was no one using the park and now there’s the skatepark there are kids here every day and not on their computers. We used to go to Lynn or Corby but during the pandemic we had to stay with the children all day. Now this is on their doorstep. It shows if you keep working to get these things like the skatepark it can be done.”
Alan Watlington from the Geoffery Watling charity who gave a grant towards the project said” We are glad to be able to have the funds to support the skatepark and it suits all ages.”
Sandringham Fire Brigade were in attendance at the recreation ground with a view of recruitment to the service and to show the new drone they use.
