Ch,ch,ch changes...

Luke, Nic and Phil were at the park today to discuss some changes to the layout. The funbox is being rotated so the banks are on the inside, this is easier to trick off and allows it to be skated as an up block and down block. The rail on the funbox will be lowered a couple inches which will hopefully lead to all sorts of new shenanigans. The flat bar is being moved to opposite end of the park, almost mirroring where it once was. In its new location it will also be a couple inches (no more) lower. A few feet from where the flatbar used to be a 2.5 meter long kinked single bar hi-low rail will be installed. Luke assures me all the hips have been unaffected. Fabricators have started on the transition at the bottom of the flatbanks so it shouldn't be too long before the new facelifted park is revealed.

Boooo! Rubbish!

I got wind of this from Mike and Macy on sunday and Phil confirmed it today; at some point over the week the park was broken into and used. The finish on the epoxy on the halfpipe now needs to be redone. In addition to this there were bottles smashed across the park further holding up progress. It was not just one group as luke caught some younger skaters entering the park but larger footprints have also been found.

Please spread the word that the park is closed for a good reason, every time something like this happens it sets the project back as work has to be redone.

Watch the progress unfold!

Phil has been very hard working and been visiting the skatepark each day to keep builders on track and to document the progress, these photos can be found here:

Gallery

Spring jam and the start of the refurb.

The spring jam absolutely went off this weekend, with the highlight being the modelling balloon fuelled mini jam. This picture pretty much sums it up.

All in all the day really showed the local scene is thriving and that there is the demand for a quality skate facility in Chelmsford. Enough people came down early that sweeping out under the ramps and filling the many rubbish sacks with litter felt like it didn't take much time at all. Prizes were given out by: Duffs, Three Amigos, Demon Extreme, DX Park in Colchester, Wheelscape and the ever generous Daz Coles. For a more thorough write up, see Phil's essex rollers post. For more pictures, scroll to the bottom of this post.

The jam was the last chance to use the park before repair work started. This work has already begun in earnest. A high fence has been erected around the park. This is not just to stop people riding the park before work is completed but, to stop the sand that is being blasted at high speed from blinding passers by. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT POKE YOUR HEAD OVER THE FENCES OR MAKE HOLES IN THE FOIL BETWEEN PANELS. We are willing to give an arm and a leg for this park, but we don't want anyone to lose their eyesight. The park will be closed for the next few weeks. There is no set re-opening day as it is not yet known exactly how much work must be done.

I'm sure you have all taken the time to fill out the petition, but if not please do, and send a link to few local people you think would support the cause. It sounds like the numbers are mounting up and it would be great to be able to show a massive amount of support when looking for funding.

Albums From the Jam:

Dan Slieker's

Phil McEwan's

Stephen Robinson's

Ben Wills'

Matt Green's 

More to come from Halliday and Stratton.