Town of Cottesloe celebrates opening of new skate park, closing chapter on its controversial history

The West Australian Perth Now Click to open navigation ‌‌ News Chevron Down Icon Breaking News Western Australia National World Technology Opinion Weather Sport Chevron Down Icon AFL Cricket Soccer Basketball Tennis NRL Rugby Motor Racing MMA Golf Netball Cycling Entertainment Chevron Down Icon Confidential Movies Best Short Film Television Music Reviews Books Competitions Business Chevron Down Icon Breaking News Economy Markets Property Commercial Property Workplace Matters Lifestyle Chevron Down Icon Food Personal Finance Health Parenting Fashion Travel Home & Garden Relationships Stars Real Estate HUH? Local News Chevron Down Icon North Central South Mandurah Competitions Find My Paper Digital Editions Shop Now Read your local paperNews to your inbox North Central South Mandurah Competitions Find My Paper Digital Editions Camera IconKids and adults brought their bikes and boards down to John Black Dune Park on Saturday morning to celebrate the opening of the new skate park. Credit: Harriet Flinn Town of Cottesloe celebrates opening of new skate park, closing chapter on its controversial history Harriet FlinnPerthNow – Western Suburbs June 13, 2024 2:00AM Comments TopicsPerthNow – Western SuburbsLifestyleLocal NewsOutdoor The controversial saga of a skate park in Cottesloe has come to an end with the facility opening to the public, with one young man who was instrumental in getting the idea off the ground on hand to witness the “amazing outcome”. Kids and adults brought their bikes and boards down to John Black Dune Park on Saturday morning to celebrate the opening of the new skate park. The ceremonial cutting of the red ribbon by Town of Cottesloe mayor Lorraine Young also marked the end of a lengthy and contentious process that from the outset divided the people of the suburb into bitter, warring factions. PerthNow Digital Edition.Your local paper, whenever you want it. Read now TheNightly Get in front of tomorrow’s news for FREE Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.READ NOW Standing by the park’s new rink on Saturday morning was Isaac Yeo, who was one of the original group of young kids who banded together to propose a skate park be built in their neighbourhood. “The idea kind of came about back in 2017 when we realised that there wasn’t a skate park in our local area that was super accessible to us as kids,” he recalled. “So some of my friends and I went around on the weekends to the beaches, local cafes and surf comps and we had a printed out petition sheet and asked random people for their signature support for the skate park.” After gaining more than 1000 signatures in support, Isaac and his friends, with the help of their parents, pitched the park to Cottesloe council as a great outdoors activity for a wide range of people that could foster physical exercise and help mental health.Camera IconPictured is original petitioner Isaac Yeo next to young skaters Daphne, Abby, Indie and Alice. Credit: g But others in the area were quick to object, even distributing flyers to warn of the dangers they believed a skate park would bring. They said a skate park could attract “drug dealing” to “gang activity” — kicking off a bizarre culture and class war in the affluent suburb. Signs began popping up around Grant Marine Park — the original proposed location for the skate area — warning residents that “undesirable night-time activity” and “graffiti” would emerge. A letter was also dropped in residents’ mailboxes, showing Census results found 54 per cent of Cottesloe residents had achieved a higher education degree or doctorate. “It should be of no surprise that the two close-by suburbs of Fremantle and Scarborough, touted in the independent report as having skate parks, have a much lower 24 per cent and 33 per cent respective degree/higher education,” it said.Camera IconThe new skate park at John Black Dune Park in Cottesloe Credit: Harriet Flinn After protests, council meetings and a viral hashtag, the Town of Cottesloe council approved a skate park being built at John Black Dune Park. The project secured $743,900 in funding from Lotterywest last year, enabling construction to begin. The skate park, which is now open to the public, includes a bowl, a plaza area, a hang-out area and a pump track. Wheels in motionConstruction of Cottesloe’s new skate park coming soon “We are thrilled to announce the completion of the skate park and that this brand new recreational space is now open and ready to be experienced by our community,” Ms Young said. “We are pleased to deliver another outdoor space for children, young people and families to use and enjoy for the future.” Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Email Us Copy the Link Register and have your say. Register to comment Already have an account? Log in Nominate now to say thank you7NEWS Health Heroes celebrates our frontline workers within the WA public health system. Tell us how your 7NEWS Health Hero has made a difference. 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