Bay Skate grows skater numbers at Marine Parade site

Alexandra Madsen, 19, Napier, Australasian female scooter champion, pictured at Bay Skate, Marine Parade, Napier. Photo/Duncan Brown

Its 3pm. The doors of Bay Skate are not even open, and already kids with scooters are waiting outside the Marine Parade skate park.

By the time it closes, the park will have been used by "hard core riders", families and toddlers, businessmen keen for an "after-work skate", and even for inline hockey, and roller derby training.

This is the point of difference for the new park, which is not even a year old but has already catered to nearly 15,000 riders.

"It attracts everyone", manager Will Hanson said. "That's really important for us, being accessible for pretty much anyone on any form of roller sports.

"That's something we're proud of and we keep trying to push that, and to grow."

This is made possible through the use of space at the former Marineland site. One area is taken up with ramps, and a bowl, while a flat concrete part below the renovated grandstand provides other uses, Bay Skate lead Kyle Hamilton said.

"If there's a trick they want to do, they can go away and work on that trick but still be part of the environment. Families have space to skate around and not worry about hooligans."

The park's success can be seen partly in the numbers - since opening in December, an average of 2050 enjoy it each month, and 227 have become members.

It's also measured in skaters' progress - which Bay Skate helps by adapting facilities and holding events to give skaters something to work toward - and the number who have been able to give skating a go.

"Just getting a lot of people on wheels that would be the main thing, we do the learn to skate every Sunday, and we managed to pull off one roller disco," Mr Hamilton said.

"A lot of people that wouldn't necessarily think that they're into this kind of stuff have come in and got amongst it."

This success is welcome given the park was developed amidst public outcry - created as an alternative skating site when the former Sk8Zone closed last year for the Marine Parade redevelopment.

Mr Hamilton - the former Sk8Zone rink manager - said while there would always be a sense of loss, "it's about looking to the future and moving forward".

"There might be animosity there but we don't try and focus on that, we try and focus on the future and focus on improving this place," Mr Hanson said.

"At the end of the day it's about the kids, it's about the people that come here."

It is hoped the park will grow with its users.

"I don't think we could ever say it's finished, it's something we want to keep progressing and changing things around to cater for what people are after," Mr Hamilton said.

As well as getting feedback through an iPad in the foyer, "we always try and make it a point to talk to our riders and see what they're thinking and how they're enjoying this place", Mr Hanson said.

While there are "lots of plans" in the shorter term this development will see movable ramps - which range in size, and can be adapted for specific tricks - brought to the park.
Other goals include having the New Zealand Scootering Nationals held at the park, and, ultimately, to have more professional skaters coming out of Napier.