Skate and bike park mooted at showgrounds

The proposed bike track and skatepark could be built on the northern boundary of the showgrounds.

A skatepark and a bike trail could be among the next additions to the Warkworth Showgrounds.

A new group called Mahurangi Bike and Skate presented to the Rodney Local Board last month asking for a $5000 grant to commission a concept plan for a skatepark and bmx/mountainbike track.

Group representative Nicola Jones said a bmx pump track could be built into the hillside to the north of the showgrounds, while a skatepark could be built in an adjacent flat area near the hockey turf.

“The topography is perfect,” Nicola said. “The bank is currently under-utilised. It wouldn’t require a lot of work to carve out a bike track.”

The group has been investigating other facilities in the region and is now ready to move to the planning stage. Once a concept plan has been produced, the plan is to visit local schools and hold an open day at the showgrounds.
Nicola said it made sense to have a broad range of facilities at the showgrounds.

“It’s a wicked complex out there now. People want to be there. Having a place where people have exposure to all the sports in one place – I don’t think you can put a value on that.”

Mahurangi Sports Collective chair Mark Illingworth supported Nicola’s proposal at the meeting and told the Board there wasn’t much else the sloping land could be used for.