£200,000 boost for Muir skatepark's all-weather plans

PLANS to make Muir of Ord’s skatepark an all-weather facility have been lodged with Highland Council planners.

The Highland Skate Parks Association (HSPA) is aiming to roof the facility and install floodlighting, an access footpath and a soakaway to enable enthusiasts to use it all year round.

The association has already clinched £200,000 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Community Spaces Scotland scheme to cover the costs, and tenders for the work are expected in by January 14.

The park, which originally cost £80,000, opened in August 2008, and is well used, despite being open to the elements.

A survey carried out by the association identified a demand for covering over the Muir of Ord facility to enable its use in all weathers.

One of those spearheading the project is HSPA treasurer and Muir of Ord resident Nigel Campbell who, at 73, has worked tirelessly to provide skateboard facilities and has won widespread praise in his community and beyond.

The retired businessman has also been at the forefront of transforming the old Inverness Skatepark which reopened only two weeks ago, after a £455,000 facelift by the association.

He told the Ross-shire Journal this week: “With the Muir of Ord skatepark being available all year round in all weathers, we believe its use will virtually double.

“The overhead roof will protect the skateboarders from the worst of the weather and make it much more suitable for use in bad weather.”

The HSPA’s agent, Alan Jones, of Alan Jones Associates, told the Ross-shire Journal: “Nigel is an extremely energetic and committed guy – at one point during the Inverness skatepark project he was out with a shovel and a barrow removing rocks and other rubbish on site himself to make sure everything went ahead on plan.

“Even with all his community work, he managed to take a trip with his family last month to China, where he also climbed a few mountains.

“There are few people half his age who do so much.”

Mr Jones revealed that young skateboarders were already keenly looking forward to the improvements at Muir of Ord.

He said: “Each time I have visited the village site there have been between 10 and 20 youngsters using the facility.

“I was surprised how orderly they were waiting in turn to use it – and I had a chance to ask them what improvements they would like to see.

“They all said that, if it were roofed over, they would come most days no matter what the weather.”

Association secretary Joanne Cameron is also looking forward to the Muir of Ord development.

She said: “In addition to making the skatepark more available, it will also make it safer for youngsters who use it even in the worst of weather when the surfaces are wet.”

The skatepark is situated near to the BMX track behind the police station in the centre of the village and its opening followed a two-year campaign to secure funding and land for the project and to complete the construction.

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