Youngsters in Rhyl have helped design the skatepark

Local youngsters have helped design the �160,000 park in Rhyl, which has been funded by a Welsh Assembly Government initiative.

The seafront area beneath the town's sky tower has been transformed with ramps, rails, fun boxes and pipes to create a venue for roller sports enthusiasts.

Work began on the venue in May after skateboarders helped developers draw up the plans.

Local authority officials say it is the first of a number of plans drawn up to revamp the seaside resort's promenade.

Denbighshire council's head of public protection, Ken Ewing, said: "This is a big kick start to the area and a positive development in West Rhyl.

It has been designed to the specifications of the local youngsters who will have open access to the park, from dawn till dusk Ken Ewing, Denbighshire council

"I hope it shows we mean business in our plans to bring prosperity to this part of the town.

"It has been designed to the specifications of the local youngsters who will have open access to the park, from dawn till dusk."

The west ward in Rhyl was classified as the most deprived area of Wales in 2000.

The new park was opened on Saturday morning by Vale of Clwyd Assembly Member, Ann Jones.

In February 2003, more than 150 people attended a public meeting to view a presentation by a leading skatepark manufacturer.

Skateboarders, who said they did not have anywhere to use their boards safely, were able to chose which design they wanted.

Regeneration

Denbighshire councillor Michael German said it had been a successful venture which involved many from the West Rhyl Young People's Project.

The �160,000 park is built underneath the sky tower

"The children were given a say in what they wanted and I think this time we have a working formula," he said.

"Of course, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating but it looks good.

"I'm very proud of it."

He added that the next step is to give the park a name.

The county's other �27,000 skatepark at Prestatyn, which opened in February, has been named "No Fear" by its users.

The money for the scheme has been made available through the Welsh assembly's Communities First initiative, a regeneration scheme targeting the most deprived areas of Wales.