The young people of Rothwell and surrounding community are petitionaing for a safe environment to build a skatepark as a venue to meet up with friends, to skate and generally socialise. Crucially this will be designed to draw the crowds of youths away from the busy shopping area and traffic in the centre of Rothwell alleviating the current anti-social behaviour issues. As vast as Rothwell Park may be, the current facility in place is inappropriate and dangerously unsafe for skateboarding. It is not fit for purpose as in wet weather the ramps are slippy, they have deteriorated, becoming broken and the park is not lit. Therefore the young people have started to congregate and skate around the old Morrisons car park because it is a large quiet area in the evening and it is fully lit. This has inevitably fuelled complaints of Anti-Social behaviour. Nicknamed "The spot" the youths are currently drawing crowds in of around 30 upwards at a time before being frequently moved on by CSO patrols, however, there as yet been no solution to the problem as the kids have nowhere else to go, the nearest skatepark being 2 buses travel away. Inevitably, their boredom is resulting in compaints of Anti Social Behaviour in particular initimidation due to the sheer volume of the crowds. It is important to point out that these kids are on the whole not bad kids, they are bored kids who need somewhere to spend time together. The youths are extremely passionate about the propspect of a skatepark being built in Rothwell and enthusiastic to be involved in the design and development of the park, they have agreed to organise fund raising events for the project and assist in any way possible to see this project through, which we imagine will help to combat the tendency towards ASB while also encouraging a healthier lifestyle. By being actively and directly invloved in the project kids will find a sense of responsibility, acheivement and ownership of the park.
They have requested that the skatepark be opened in memory of Daniel Parrinder, a popular local skateboarder who tragically died recently as a result of a fatal car crash in the summer of 2014. Daniel inspired kids in Rothwell to take up skateboarding and spent time encouraging them to improve their skills and gain confidence. Daniel's untimely death has come as a painful shock which undoubtedly has been a difficult task for these boys to come to terms with. He is severelymissed by all who knew him and we feel this would make a fitting tribute to him where his memory will live on.
All we ask is that you sign our petition to show your support to this worthy cause for the kids in Rothwell and surrounding communities, not just for now but for the generations ahead.
