A NEW community group has formed in North Berwick to lead work on designing and improving the town’s skatepark.

North Berwick Community Skatepark Project has been founded to spearhead the funding, design and construction of what it says will be “a much-improved, safer skatepark”.

The updated skatepark will be found on the site of the existing council-owned one in Recreation Park.

The plan is to keep the existing ramps, which the majority of users requested, but they would be repaired and revised.

There would also be extra ramps, quarter pipes, a small funbox, manual pad with a ledge, and a quarter pipe with a bowl section.

The current standalone half pipe would see a reduction in height and modifications to make a safer and more usable “mini ramp”.

East Lothian Courier: A rough plan for how the new skatepark will look; the final yet-to-be-confirmed design, will be similar to this one. Image: Kyle McPartlin

A rough plan for how the new skatepark will look; the final yet-to-be-confirmed design, will be similar to this one. Image: Kyle McPartlin

It is hoped this plan will update the skatepark and make it safer for people to use, as well as providing an extra facility for younger people.

Local resident Alex Naughton, a structural engineer and lifelong skateboarder, is one of the group’s committee members.

He has produced an initial design and, alongside his fellow committee members, will work in conjunction with Concreate Skatepark, which installed the skatepark at Athelstaneford, to make it a reality.

The final design, which is yet to be confirmed and finalised, will also incorporate input from the children, teenagers and adults who use the current skatepark, allowing them to be part of the process and have their say in how the new skatepark will look and feel.

Several questionnaires have been completed, not only to get design feedback but gauge interest and canvas the desire for the project as a whole.

The project is at an early stage, with those at North Berwick Community Skatepark Project working closely with East Lothian Council on it. It is not yet known when plans will be submitted to the council.

A spokesperson for the skatepark project: “We are looking forward to getting this project off the ground very soon.

“The committee’s vision is to create an inclusive, safe, fun and much-improved facility that will offer a really positive addition to the town.”

For more information, search NB Community Skatepark on Facebook or Instagram.