FORM A SKATEPARK PROJECT GROUP

You are not the only person who would like to have a new skatepark in your community.  Share your idea with other people like you. Form a dedicated project group, include anyone interested. Identify friends, colleagues, classmates, parents, local skate shop and community leaders who think or might think that having a new skatepark would be a fantastic idea.  These do not have to be people that would actually use the park.  

Remember, many people within your community who do not skate or ride will benefit from having a new skatepark. From the parents whose children will use it, to the Councillors who wants to improve your town, to a teacher will want an improved quality of life for their students and the people in your area.

PASSION, DEDICATION & DETERMINATION

All community led skatepark projects are led by a passionate, dedicated and determined group of people. Form a group, we’ll call this a Project Group. Getting a group of passionate and determined individuals together is one of the main keys to success. To get a new skatepark, you’re going to need as much help as you can get. Your group will be involved in every step of your skatepark project, from gathering support, fundraising, planning, supplier selection and design. A solid organisation of local people is one of the first things you will need in order to gain the support necessary to build your new skatepark.  Your group will be involved in every step of your skatepark project.

SHARE YOUR IDEA WITH PEOPLE TO GET THEM INVOLVED

You are not the only person who would like to have a lovely new skatepark in your community. Share your idea with other local people who would like to improve your community. Talk to these people, explain your idea if needed. Remember, many people within your community who do not skate or ride will benefit from having a new skatepark.  From the parents whose children will use it, to the Councillors who wants to improve your town, to a teacher will want an improved quality of life for their students and the people in your area.

FORMING A GROUP WILL SHOW THAT YOU'RE ORGANISED

When you introduce your idea to your Council, it is best to show that you're organised and mean business. Councils respond well to this because they can relate to it. Getting together a group of like-minded local people that believe in your cause will help you work on the project and gain the support you require.

INVOLVE A WIDE RANGE AND AGES IN YOUR GROUP

If you’re a group of young people in your early teens, get some adults involved. They will be able to bring a lot of life experience and solid advice to your group. If you’re a group of adults, get some younger people involved, the people who are probably going to be using your new park the most. They will bring a wealth of enthusiasm and great ideas to your project.  When trying to win people over to supporting your project, hearing why a new park is a great idea will carry far more weight when coming from someone who is going to use the park regularly.  In short, your local authority will like to see that there is a wide age range of people involved in your project.

INCLUDE LOTS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM YOUR COMMUNITY

Include anyone who might be interested. Remember, these do not have to be people who actually use the park. Tell them you’re having a meeting to discuss how to best go about getting a new park. 

Try to include:

• Friends
• Park Users
• Potential park users
• Classmates
• Colleagues
• Parents
• Councillors
• Teachers
• Youth workers
• Business owners
• Law enforcement members

FORMING A GROUP SHOWS THAT YOU MEAN BUSINESS

When you introduce your idea to your Council, it is best to show that you're organised and mean business. Councils like this sort of stuff as they can relate to it. Getting together a group of like-minded local people that believe in your cause will help you work on the project and gain the support you require.

ASSIGN ROLES TO MEMBERS TO SUIT THEIR SKILLS

Appoint a Chairperson who leads the group. Your group will need spokespeople who are confident and good with words, people who are willing and comfortable to speak to your council and the public. Every person will bring different qualities to the group, assign them tasks that suit their skills. One may be great at writing reports and press releases, another great at social media management, another at keeping track of any money that comes in, another with good website skills.  You get the idea.

BE ORGANISED

To ensure maximum potential, a project group should be organised. This will help you to operate more efficiently and to make faster progress.  Make notes about who attended each meeting, what was discussed, and what the action points are, and who has been appointed to carry these tasks out.

BE UNIFIED IN YOUR MESSAGE

Your group will need to appear unified. There will be different personalities, people will have differing ideas. Listen to everyone’s ideas, respect their opinion and what they have to say. Put any personal differences aside. Whatever happens at group meetings, you must always appear to be unified from the outside, to be acting as one. To appear fragmented or disorganised to your community will hinder your progress. People will think 'this group are not in a position to complete their goals, they can't even agree amongst themselves.

Some people will be heavily involved, other people may only be able to give a small amount of their time. Over time, some people may drop out of your project due to work or family commitments, and new people will join.  It is normal for a group to evolve in this way. You will find that there will be a smaller number of people that stay with the project for the duration. This is your ‘core group’.

WHAT SIZE SHOULD YOUR GROUP BE?

There is no magic number of people that should be involved in your project group.  Sometimes a smaller number of core group members will make it easier to make decisions, but always refer to anyone that has given time or help to your project as a group member. The larger your group appear to be from the outside, the more influence it will carry.

HOLD A MEETING

Next, have a meeting, discuss ideas and make plans on how you are going to achieve your goals. Try to have regular meetings, at least twice a month to start with. You may be surprised how quickly things begin to develop.

Have a Skatepark Group meeting

ARTICLES RELATED TO THIS SECTION

Start a Facebook page

Start a Petition for your Skatepark

Have a Skatepark Group meeting

Write a Mission Statement

Contact a Skatepark Company for Designs of Parks they've built