Building needed for new indoor skatepark in Salisbury
James Babb wants to open an indoor skatepark in Salisbury for local youngsters
- Published
Plans have been unveiled for a new indoor skatepark in Salisbury.
The founder of Level Up Salisbury, a community run group, wants to set up an indoor activity centre to give young people in the city more things to do.
James Babb, 44, a Downton resident near Salisbury is looking for a site to convert which would be run as a community interest company to help young people get involved in the adventure sports on offer.
The group needs to find a suitable location and building offering more than 15,000 sq feet.
The site will offer BMX, skateboarding, scooter riding, bouldering, inline skating and quad skating.
Mr Babb is a small business owner and has spent the last few months working on the idea of an indoor skatepark and bouldering wall for the Salisbury area after taking up skateboarding in his forties.
The group is looking at two possible locations, one in central Salisbury and one on the outskirts of the city.
Mr Babb has already secured a used indoor skatepark from Swindon which is in storage and ready to use as soon as a suitable location is found.
The new indoor skatepark will offer skateboarding, skating and BMX in Salisbury
Mr Babb said: "There is definitely a gap that can be filled for supporting Salisbury youth. There is nothing like this in Salisbury at all.
"Both the skating, bouldering and BMX on offer are all Olympic disciplines. Apart from having fun, this is about securing our sporting culture moving forward."
The project will be run by a community interest company which needs support with infrastructure to get it started.
A free community event will take place on May 19 at Churchill Gardens in Salisbury to showcase demonstrations of the sports which will be promoted through the project.
Happy Skateboarder Skate School will provide tuition at the community event for those interested in trying out skateboarding and will offer the use of helmets, pads, and boards.
Mr Babb said there is a real appetite locally for the facility: "The skatepark will support youth from the surrounding areas in need of economic and social support.
"The indoor skate park will provide a safe environment providing facilities that young people want in a responsible environment. This is what I want to bring to Salisbury."