'Exciting plans' for improved skating facilities in Finsbury Park

Haringey Council says the upgrade will be paid for using money made from hosting large events in the park

Finsbury Park and (inset right) plans for the improved skating facility by Haringey Council

Skateboarders are to benefit from improved facilities in Finsbury Park thanks to Haringey Council.

The project has come about from a partnership between Haringey Council and the Friends of Finsbury Park group, and will see the council invest £145,000 in a new multi-use skate plaza providing “new and inclusive skating opportunities for seasoned skaters and newcomers alike”.

The plaza, which will feature moveable skate obstacles including kickers, a manual pad, kerb and wallie rail, will also be suitable for other wheeled activities such as rollerskating, rollerblading and entry-level cycling and skating.

The new skate plaza has been made possible thanks to the income generated by the council through hosting major events in Finsbury Park, including the annual Wireless Festival. The council receives around £1.2m from events annually, all of which it says is reinvested directly into maintaining and improving the park.

Work is now underway on seeking tenders from contractors for the construction of the skate plaza, which it is hoped will be open to the public by spring 2024.

Emily Arkell, cabinet member for culture, communities and leisure, said: “I’m delighted that, after listening carefully to the voices of our residents and park users, we have settled on an exciting plan for the future of Finsbury Park’s skate plaza. I’d like to thank all the skate park users who responded to our consultations, and I look forward to continuing to work together with them as we make these plans a reality.

“In Haringey, we have ambitious plans to deliver a high-quality parks service for all our residents. This project shows how the council can work together with friends groups and park users to make our wonderful parks and greenspaces even better.

“It’s also a great example of the benefits that hosting major events bring to Finsbury Park, as this project would not have been possible without the significant income that these provide.”

The design for the new skate plaza was selected through an online poll of skate park users in which they were asked to select from two designs. The winning design involves creating a new multi-use skate plaza on the hardstanding next to the existing skatepark through the installation of new skateable modular obstacles. This option was backed by 355 votes (61%) to 230 votes (39%) for the alternative option.

Find out more about the Finsbur Park skate plaza project:
Visit https://finsburyparkskatepark.commonplace.is/

Local news needs your support

We are proud that we were at the forefront of reporting on the recent local elections. We can’t do this without the support of our readers.

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.