Wickepin kids excited as work begins on new skate park

Work on the Wickepin skate park has started and local children Husky Martin, Matilda Martin and Dylan Green can’t wait to hit the ramps when the project is completed in six to eight weeks time. “There used to be an old skate park here but it got replaced with the nature playground,” Dylan said. “You could use bikes and scooters on it, I live 5km out of town so I probably won’t be here too often but I’ll get here a few times — I can spend the night at Nan’s place.” At Wickepin’s Wogolin Playground on August 4, the boys agreed that it would be about two years since the town last had a skate park. “It’ll be awesome I reckon,” Husky said. “I’ll probably use my scooter on it.” The park is being constructed behind the playground on Wogolin in Wickepin’s recreation precinct. “It’ll have a few jumps, maybe a few bars to slide skateboards down,” Dylan said. “Not that I’m going to do any of that but I might use an RC car on there and do some backflips.” Husky’s sister Matilda said she was looking forward to trying out the skate park on her rollerblades. “I usually rollerblade at home,” she said. “I have a friend called Molly that has rollerblades and we like to rollerblade together.” Shire Cr Tyron Miller said the new facilities funded by the Federal Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program would benefit locals and tourists alike. “I’ve got a seven-year-old son and he’s pretty keen on the scooter and basketball as well — there’s a basketball court going in here too — he used the nature park before and he’ll use it even more now that it’s been made it better,” he said. “It’s great for the town, we’ve had lots of good feedback from people from calling through. “You see a lot of people using the nature park — to be able to stop off here and let the kids play safely for a bit really helps break trips up.” Cr John Mearns said that the work being undertaken by Australian skatepark design and construction company Skate Sculpture was of a high standard. “The team are well and truly focused and working,” he said. “They’ve got all their ducks in a row, they’ve got all their gear here and safety wise I’m very happy with it. “I used to work in the mining industry and in construction and you look at them and you think ‘these guys know what they’re doing’ — it makes you really confident.” Work on the skate park is expected to be completed in September weather permitting.