Teenagers could get another skate park

Thursday 17 April 2014

Jersey’s Millennium Park could soon have a skate park and teenagers will be asked what they want it to look like.

It’s one of the enhancements being considered by a number of organisations looking to make improvements to the Park and cut the number of complaints made about it.

During half term the Police spoke to park users and local residents, used social media and held a live web chat to get Islanders’ views on the town park.

Head of the Operation Support Unit Inspector Mark Coxshall said: “Since it opened we have received a number of complaints in relation to Millennium Park, but instead of dealing with the cause we have perhaps been trying to address the effects which does not necessarily provide for sustainable longer term solutions.

The feedback showed that the existing five-aside court is not really being used and would be better suited for other sports and activities like skateboarding. Transport and Technical Services have agreed to do the work if they can find the funding and are also looking at alternatives to maximize the use of the facilities available.

TTS Manager Fay Gibaut said: “We want to make the park a space where everyone can go and enjoy themselves. The feedback from users suggests this may be a great way to do that. We will now be looking at how we can make this happen, as well as asking young people exactly what they want this new space to look like.”

Inspector Coxshall said: “Opportunities to convert the existing cage area would resolve many of the issues that the States of Jersey Police have responded to over recent times. In short, the source of problem is being tackled”.

Transport and Technical Services (TTS), Youth Service, Honorary Police, Parish of St Helier, Community and School Sports Department and Freedom Church are working with the police to look at what the park is being used for and what can be done to make it better.

The Youth Service and Freedom Church run sports sessions in the park every Friday and Saturday night. 

Community Development Officer for Sport Paul Brannan said: “Our sport sessions are hugely popular because anyone can come and join in, and we are adding more sports in to the mix this year. To have the police on board is great and we look forward to working with them.”