THE
HISTORY
Far back in the mists of time (well, 1998) a patch of wasteland in the heart of Millbrook’s green space had tarmac laid over it - and Millbrook had its first skateable surface. It would be a while though before skatepark features would arrive - after a community survey in 2004 identified a need for something more substantial, it was then that the community motivated into action .. funding was secured and the parish council appointed a contractor to install skate features, and so in 2006 a series of metal ramps and ledges were laid down.. this included the now legendary mini-ramp which was so good that it garnered a loyal following, and skateboarders would come from far and wide to skate it.
These ramps were well used and Millbrook’s skateboard community thrived. But the ramps would deteriorate over time. The tarmac became worn and buckled, roots appearing and cracks forming. By the end of the ’10s skateboarders on the Rame Peninsula were facing up to the fact that their skatepark was decaying away. Sea mist, sou’westerlies ripping through and the ravages of time were taking their toll. In the early ’20s some of the ramps had to be removed on safety grounds. The mini ramp remained, but for how long? It was becoming clear that pretty soon there wouldn’t be anything left to skate or ride on.
And so in 2021 a new community group was formed, tasked with raising funds to develop a brand new, state-of-the-art, modern concrete skatepark. The group was called Millbrook Skatepark Project, made up of local skateboarders, business people, residents and parents. It’s first big effort to raise money was on Crowdfunder and this was a massive success
The heritage of the old mini ramp would be honoured by including a bowled-end mini ramp in the new concrete design, and there would be a very special new feature - ‘The Wave’, a cresting block of concrete moulded as a wave and seemingly defying gravity, inspired by many of the locals being both skateboarders as well as surfers. Mavericks began works in early January 2024, and after 12 weeks of hard slog, incredible workmanship, detailed engineering together with a liberal dose of artistry, the new skatepark came into existence in Spring 2024.
It was the single most successful UK skatepark fund raise on the platform ever, a whopping £62,000 was raised on Crowdfunder in the space of 6 weeks in the Autumn of 2022.
This proved that the community was massively behind the cause. It showed other, big national funders that we were serious - and the money started coming in. Over the course of 18 months the group went on to raise almost £300,000 in order to have the skatepark built and the immediate surrounding area enhanced (a list of the funders is shown below). After consultation and engagement with the Millbrook community, local skateboarders and other wheeled sports users, a contractor was appointed (Mavericks) and a design settled on.
