Janaury 2016
St.Ives Community Orchard Group began to discuss the idea of helping revitalise the whole area at the Recreation ground by looking at skatepark.
12th January 2017
First Meeting to discuss setting up St Ives Skatepark Project group as subgroup of the Orchard Community Group and organising launch event.
January 2017
Web Page set up for St.Ives Skatepark /set up Skatepark Project Facebook page (443 likes as of Oct 2017) Separate Bank Account set up for Skate Park Project
19th January 2017
Site Meeting with Russ Holbert from Maverick Industries (based in Poole) at the Skatepark to discuss design ideas.
8th February 2017
Meeting to finalise setting up of SK8 event
12th February 2017
Launch Event in the Guildhall - with a halfpipe ramp/surverys/raffle/food and drink money raised and donation TBC
9th March -2017
Western Hotel - Inaugural meeting of larger Skate Park group to discuss how to move forward - Design group set up
March 2017
Design Brief sent to companies - Wheelscape, Maverick, Gravity (and Freestyle)
Lots of research phone calls and conversations over the next months with various group members.
7th April 2017
Design Consulation face groups set up for companies creating designs to interact with local users
25th April 2017
Site Meeting with Russ Heideman from Wheelscape (Bristol) at SkatePark
30th April 2017
Meeting at Black Rock Restaurant to discuss local fundraising ideas
8th May 2017
Meeting at the Guildhall with Russ from Maverick in which he presented his design concept. May 8th:
10th May 2017
Wheelscape submitted design
14th June 2017
Freestyle and Gravity submitted designs
15th June 2017
Meeting at the Guildhall. First viewing of all four design submissions and discussion about merits of each.
24th /25th June 2017
Secret Gardens of St.Ives Weekend - half proceeds to go to St.Ives Skatepark Project. Skatepark Project member Senara Wilson Hodges opened garden and displayed plans. £980. 41 from Secret Gardens £26.70 from donations
25th June 2017
BBQ at the Skatepark to show 4 designs for skatepark and get together and raise some money £145.50 raised
July 21st 2017
Meeting at the Guildhall to decide final design and pick company to work with.
22nd September 2017
Cheque Presentation from St.Ives Community Fund at the Skatepark (for article in local press)
October 1st 2017
Fundraiser and Raffle with Lee Skeet and BlackRock Restaurant £4,200 raised
15th October 2017
Information Station about the Skatepark Project at the Community Orchard Apple Day
26th October 2017
Meeting with Town Council Environment and Planning Group to present aims of Skatepark Project.
6th November 2017
Meeting with local project Flashlight (which works with local vulnerable children) - discussion about working together. Looked around the Flashlight premises - they have displayed our Maverick Plans.
Wednesday 15th November 2017
Fundraising Strategy Meeting - Penlan Beach Road
Thursday 30th November 2017
Presentation to St.Ives Bay Youth Council followed by a discussion. Unanimous agreement behind idea for a new concrete skatepark and they have adopted us as their cause.
Friday 15th December 2017
Skatepark drinks -Gin at the Firehouse
Sunday 4th February 2018
Cafe Art - Fundraising Ideas Day and filming at Flashlight - donations £15
Wednesday 7th February 2018
Crowdfunding Training Night at Cambourne - attended by Elise, Gill, Senara
Thursday 15th Feb / Monday 19th Feb 2018
Meeting to organise presentation to Council - other informal meeting in Jan and Feb too.
Thursday February 22nd
Presentation to the Trustees of the Palemon Best Recreation Ground prior to the Town Council Meeting.
Monday 26th February
Meeting with Cornwall Councillor Linda Taylor to ask for support and funding ideas.
Monday 26th February
Ghost Town Screening for the Skatepark - donations £17.40
Friday 9th March
Meeting with Vanessa Luckwell to discuss funding strategy (also attended by Linda Taylor, Gill,Senara and Elise. Followed by meeting with Andrew Mitchell to ask for his support at Cornwall Councillor.
15th March
Meeting at Flashlight to discuss fund raising events this year
Thursday 29th March
Meeting to discuss and adopt constitution of the Skatepark Project Community
Group (now separate from the St.Ives Community Orchard)
Sunday 8th April
Lee Skeet runs a supper club in aid of the St.Ives Skatepark project and raises £1840
Senara films the event.
19th April 2018
New film about Lee Skeet and the skatepark and supperclub put on to youtube and shared on social media.
25th April 2018
Rapscallion Rollers fundraiser for the St.Ives Skatepark - amount raised TBC
Friday 27th April 2018
Meeting to start organising the SK8 Park Gig to be held on 18th August 2018 with three local bands
27th March 2018
Co-Op confirms receipt of Local Community Fund Application
2nd May 2018
Film about the Raspcallion Rollers and roller skating at skateparks uploaded and shared on social media.
21st May 2018
Community Chest Applications send to Linda Taylor and Andrew Mitchell via localism team - both granted us £500 (Andrew is financing the SK8 Gig - Linda the Art Decko project)
8th June 2018
Visit to Leona Quirk at St Uni with resources pack - Gill and Senara(which has been
sent to all local schools)
19th June 2018
New Skatepark Film uploaded to Facebook - it got a lot of attention and shares -
2nd July 2018
Meeting at St.Ives Secondary School to discuss safeguarding - Darren Saint also attended.
6th July 2018
Visit to Maverick Skatepark under construction in Newquay
13th August 2018 TBC
Gill sends off Application to Scilly isles fund
18th August 2018
Sk8Park gig - £6476.38 raised
11th September 2018
Skatepark Project Meeting at Cafe Art 7pm
May 2019 - Art Decko event raised over £12 000
June 2019 - Allard Van Hoorn's Silver Ball went through the Skatepark
3rd August 2019
Kernoachella event held at the skatepark with a skate contest compered by Zain Ishmael from Mount Hawk and a party at at night with Lowkey and Krafty Kuts.
21st July 2020
The St Ives skate park project is working closely with the Town Council to bring this project to fruition and at a recent meeting the Town Council made a pledge to support the group with the next steps:
1. Submitting a planning application (as this is an existing park we are hopeful that this process will not be too onerous but we will be keen to consult local neighbours).
2. Apply for funding bids on behalf of the skatepark where required.
3. Agreement in principle for a contract of works.
4. Confirmation of S106 funding towards improving facilities at the park to be allocated to the skatepark project.
September 2020
The Town deal awarded St Ives Skatepark Project £450000!! The Town Deal board chose to award this governments accelerator funding to the St Ives Skatepark Project as they could see it would bring real and significant benefits to the local community plus we were ready to go - we already had plans drawn up, had chosen our contractors, had raised funding ourselves and had done wide community consultation.
5th Jan 2021 - The old skatepark was fenced off and Maverick began construction of the new skatepark with head designer Ian Jennings leading the build. During the excavation process, a granite boulder was unearthed and places at the centre of the skatepark as a feature.
28th April 2021 - The Vortex was completed and Ian successfully skated the 360 degree rideable sculpture. The Vortex pays homage to the great Barbara Hepworth sculptures.
7th May 2021 - Friday 7th May 2021 saw a perfect sun rise in St. Ives - the fences came down midday, there were a few speeches, the ribbon was cut and eager skaters ran onto the brand new skatepark. Our skatepark is incredible. None of this would have been possible without the tireless work of St Ives Town Council Cornwall, the support of St Ives Town Deal and the vision held by our own St Ives Skatepark Project. This community is awesome.
Maverick team
Maverick team
Cutting the ribbon
David Symons
Strong team
Happy skaters
Photo credit: Kiss Photography
