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Coronation Park, Jardins de la Mer or Les Quennevais… One of these locations could in future be home to the island’s 500-strong skater crowd.
The suggestion comes in a new 54-page report compiled by sport and leisure consultancy firm PMR Leisure published today.
After the closure of the New North Quay skating facility, which led to outcry from the local skating community, they were commissioned to seek out a new site, while Danish architects Glifberg-Lykke drew up some potential designs with input from the Jersey Skateparks Association, Jersey Sport, and the Minister with responsibility for Sport, Senator Steve Pallett.
They came up with three key options…
This one’s the frontrunner, thought to be ideal in terms of location and size.
The designers explained: “Inspired by the rich history of Jersey, the Coronation Park skatepark houses a big ‘Jersey barrier’ and a ‘cannon bunker’ in the centre of the skatepark, guarding the Jersey flag.
“The entire skatepark is submerged into the beautiful lush landscape of Coronation Park, so that views of the park are kept intact and unobstructed. Besides the historically inspired obstacles, the skateparks has a number of traditional elements that are split into three zones.
“The different zones appeal to different kinds of skateboarding and skill levels. The beginner zone has mellow banks, rails and benches, while the immediate zone has steeper banks, quarter pipes and hips. The expert zone houses a bowl with vertical walls and traditional pool coping.”
Next in line is this coastal-facing location. Responding to the landscape, the designers said that their plans were “inspired by the waves and the ever changing tides of Jersey”, involving an “entirely new concept in skatepark design”.
They added: “Constant elevation changes create waves that run throughout the skatepark, creating constant movement through the park. The backside of the waves create a slight ‘hill’ linking the waves, while movement in the opposite direction, lets the skaters generate speed on the front of the wave itself. A technical street section runs down the middle, while quarter pipes, banks and waves create flow around the perimeter of the skatepark.
“The quarter pipes and the bank are created in a dramatic and sculptural form, that will create a unique and beautiful space on the promenade, that will attract tourists and locals alike.”
Design-wise, Les Quennevais would employ a sunken design similar to Coronation Park, as the area was felt to offer “similar opportunities”.
“However,” the report noted, “the site is out of town, away from the seafront and lacks the other benefits of a central location”.
Images: Glifberg-Lykke in collaboration with Jersey Sport.
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