All changes to the park were made in partnership with the local community, local skateboarders and the Wellington Skateboarding Association (WSA), to ensure the space would be purpose-built for a wide range of people, says WSA President Max Olijnyk.
“In consultation with the park designers Rich Landscapes, we helped put together a plan for the Tawa Skatepark to make it as special and functional as possible.
“We saw room to make it special. We used ideas from iconic skate spots from around the world – as diverse as Tampa Skatepark in Florida and Lockwood Primary school in Los Angeles. The result is really cool and unique – I'm excited to skate the Lockwood bank-to-bench, the fire hydrant and the slappie curb. We were also able to squeeze in a flat area for beginners to practice rolling around. It's an awesome park, which will continue to evolve over time.”
Local legend Kevin Francis was integral in providing insights and feedback into the design and build of the park. Having travelled extensively as a sponsored skateboarder, Kevin was able to bring unmeasurable experience, research and knowledge to the project.