On July 30, Lismore City Council unofficially opened the new Lismore Skatepark in the CBD.

Construction was completed early, so council offered the first use of the facility to those who played a key role in the project's journey from concept to final design.

Once the fence was removed, the new Lismore Skatepark has been a magnet for skaters from all over the Northern Rivers, as well as those who want to use the facility using scooters or pushbikes.

Sam James, owner of 36 Chambers skate shop on Molesworth Street and one of the region's premier skateboarders, was one of the people advising council on the design of the skatepark. He raves about the facility.

(An aerial view of the new Lismore Skatepark. Photo: Lismore City Council)

"The park is phenomenal. It's one of the best parks that I've ever been to. I've been to skate parks all over the country and all over the world, and it's one of the best that I've ever stepped foot on."

The Lismore Skatepark has also been good for business. Sam said business has been slow since the 2022 floods, but he has seen an uptick in customers in the last six days. Similar to how the Rail Trail has benefited Harris Cycle, Lismore Skatepark has helped 36 Chambers. It is another Fields of Dreams example: build it and they will come.

"That's exactly what's happened. If you walk past there early in the morning, you'll see people skating. I've got friends who go on there at 7am and I've been there till 10pm every night. So, it's been well used. And if you go there at 3:30 after school, it is absolute chaos. There's scooter kids and families and stuff everywhere, and just tons of people trying to get a role in.

"It's just such a good space for everyone, from the complete beginner to the absolute professional. Kids training to be Olympians, alongside someone who's just stepping on the board for the first time, and everyone's enjoying it."

For those who have not seen the skatepark yet, it is surrounded by solar lights, so it can be used at all hours of any day. Sam mentioned there are no shadows, so it feels like midday when he is skateboarding.

A walk around and a chat on Monday afternoon saw Zeno Murray and his mate Noah Trethowan having their first skate.

(Zeno Murray trying out his skills at the new Lismore Skatepark watched by friend Noah Trethowan)

Zeno and his mother, Anna, drove down from Pottsville. Zeno is part of a skateboarding academy on the Gold Coast, but now has a world-class facility on which to train in Lismore that is closer and with less traffic hassles. Anna said she and Zeno will more than likely come back every two weeks.

Jesse Moore drove up from South Woodburn and was having his first skate at the Lismore Skatepark.

(Jesse Moore skateboarding passed the Travis Watson rail)

Jesse is back skateboarding after a twenty-year hiatus, now that his two teenage boys have taken it up. He used to drive up to the new Byron Bay Skatepark, but thinks Lismore's is better.

In fact, a number of people had been travelling to Byron Bay, and said they will now head to Lismore as it is a better facility. There is not much in it, but Lismore did get the thumbs up over our rich coastal neighbours.

SKATING ETIQUETTE

Safety and skating etiquette have already been an issue at Lismore Skatepark. That is what happens when you put three and four-year-olds on pushbikes using the same facility as an experienced skateboarder who is training or learning new and advanced tricks.

Sam and other experienced skaters held a meeting with Lismore Council yesterday afternoon to discuss what rules and etiquette can be put in place to ensure everyone can share and use the space. The communication of those rules will be the key to its success.

"At peak hour after school. It's not being shared, it's being dominated. It's being dominated by people who didn't actually have anything to do with the planning, with the motivation, with the campaigning, with the designing. So I understand it's a space for everyone in the community to go and utilise and be a part of, but not to dominate it, not to take over, and not to get in other people's way.

"It's a space that needs to be shared. It's a space that needs to be understood and how to use it properly. So, we're getting to the stage where we need to educate people who don't actually know how to use a skate park if they're going to be part of it. We've got three-year-old girls who ride skateboards, and they've learned how to use the park. They've learned how not to get in other people's way or not be a menace. Whereas, there's a lot of other people who don't care about other people in the space and only care about what they're trying to do.

"So it's a space that needs to be shared and respected, for sure.

HOW SHOULD A SKATEPARK BE USED?

Sam explained that the reason Lismore City Council received $3.9 million in funding was that it was going to be a competition-level skatepark. One of the best in the country that will attract riders from all over the state, including Olympic hopefuls, and will hold state and national competitions in the years to come.

"That's why it is set up the way that it is," Sam said.

Sam wants people, skaters and parents to understand the flow of the skatepark. This will lead to fewer accidents and a better shared experience for everyone.

"It's actually quite straightforward, because it just goes in a straight line from one end to the other end. When you first walk in from where the mini ramp is, you'll see the Trav rail, and then you'll see some ledges on either side, ledge, ledge, rail, rail. And if you go in a straight line, you'll be able to hit all, or as many as you can, depending on your ability.

"On the way down, there's a quarter pipe at the end. You'll turn around, come back, and you'll be able to do it again on the way back, straight up and down.

(A view of the skatepark from end to end, and for parents, what not to do when it's busy)

"When you get over to the other section, the bigger sort of more street, leaguey looking section, it's still the same thing. It's all back and forth.

"If you're going to hit any of those obstacles, you go in a straight line, turn around, and come back. There's no going across the park, which is what every kid on a scooter or pedestrian walking through the park is walking directly across all of these lines, or going around in circles, which is just not how it's designed to be used.

"I understand these kids aren't trying to do anything at competition level or even hit any of these obstacles, but the reason everyone else is there is to skate all these obstacles. So to have a kid riding around in circles through the middle of four or five different lines of skateboarders, or BMX's, or even even some of the scooter kids that that are doing some wild tricks, they're still using it in the same fashion as us, but the kids who don't understand, they're just running around in circles, crossways across the park, and it's super, super, super dangerous, because they're crossing lines of people."

"Everything in this park is high speed to do anything, especially in that bigger section down the bottom, you've got to be cooking it to really get in and out of your trick. So, to be coming down a bank at full speed, and then all of a sudden there's a kid on a scooter right in your path, they're just going to get cleaned up, and they're going to definitely come off second best. Parents are out there too, just standing in the middle, having a chat, having a yarn, enjoying the space, but you're right in the middle of the park.

It is hard to knock Sam's logic. He and a number of experienced skateboarders helped design the Lismore Skatepark, so they totally understand how it should be used to keep everyone safe, and for all levels to enjoy the new space.

Parents do need to educate their children or grandchildren on the uses of the new Lismore Skatepark, as per Sam's words above. End-to-end is the right way to use the park, NOT across or around in circles.

If parents want to move their child from a scooter to a skateboard, Sam is offering a $20 trade-in on any functional scooter when you buy a new complete skateboard.

You will find 36 Chambers at 71 Molesworth Street, next to the Sherwood Hotel.

Lismore City Council will have an official opening of the new Lismore Skatepark on Saturday, August 16 at 12 noon. There will be more details to come.