Skatepark will make 35-year-old dream come true

Work has begun building a new skatepark that will realise a 35-year-old dream for the man behind it.

Carl Hurr, 51, was told off by officials while skateboarding around Southwold when he was 15 years old.

Mr Hurr says since then he has harboured the dream of creating a fully reinforced concrete skatepark for people of all ages in the Suffolk seaside town.

The new one, due to open this summer, will replace wooden ramps which have been opposite the town's pier since 2006.

''The dream to have a skatepark started when I got into trouble in the High Street for skateboarding and the town council got to hear about it," Mr Hurr said.

"They came to me and said 'would you like a skate park in Southwold?' and I said 'I'd love one'.''

An area known as the Klondyke was set aside and some rudimentary wooden ramps installed.

These were improved in 2006, but Mr Hurr never gave up on his ultimate dream of designing and building a concrete facility.

''Now that work has begun, I'm super excited and it is a dream come true for me and for many others," he said.

"It's kind of a weight lifted off my shoulders because I've often thought 'is it really going to happen?'.

"There's just going to be an immense amount of pride when it's finished.''

Mr Hurr said a key member of the fundraising effort had been Melanie Wilson who had a "relentless way of speaking to people, looking for pots of money and writing those applications".

Last year, the project received £50,000 via the Community Infrastructure Levy, which East Suffolk District Council charges developers when new housing is built.

It was hoped the work would take six to eight weeks.

Mr Hurr said: ''We are all being encouraged to do more sports and be outside, so this will be a great family-friendly site which can be used by people of all ages.

''I'd like to think I'd be one of the first to have a go, but I will be wearing a helmet and knee pads and elbow pads.

"I can't afford to get injured these days.''

The new design includes three main areas that flow from the bowl combo:

• a transitioned street-style area
• fun lumps and bumps
• a plaza inspired by the pier

There will also be a basketball area as well as new seating.

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