Southsea Skate Park & Glorious Summer Days

The lazy summer days spent on Southsea Common are looking like far more of a fast-approaching reality. The sun has been shining on Southsea for the last week in an unusual warm spell for March. These warm sunny days have spurred me onto tidying up the garden and thinking about how to spend my summer break from uni.

Southsea Common will no doubt see some serious summer-lounging action. When thinking about how lucky we are to have such a glorious spot in our city, I came across an article in The News about the changes at Southsea Skate Park. 

I am so pleased that somebody has taken action and a group have taken over the day-to-day running from Portsmouth City Council. I hope that they can continue to run and improve such a historic and iconic part of Southsea.

Southsea Skate Park on a bright summer day

I have seen the impact that the skate park has on the city’s youth and anything that gives them something to take an interest in should be praised. There are too many young people at a loose end in the Portsmouth area and this centre creates a safe meeting place and gives them something to focus their energy on.

In one of its final acts before dissolving, Southsea Town Council have handed over cash to help Southsea Skate Park. Hopefully this cash will see a new lease of life for the centre. There has been talk of investment in a roof so those typically British rainy days will not halt play. Year-round opening and improved facilities certainly makes the future of Southsea Skate Park looks bright.

The café is now open at the skate park and is not only servicing the needs of the park users, but the manager has plans for the Common users too. So my lazy summer days spent down at the Common may just be slightly more refreshed with an ice-cold drink served direct from the skate park.

The official opening is this weekend and they have a whole host of activities planned for Saturday and Sunday. For more details see  http://www.southseaskatepark.com/.

Check out the posters that have been created by local artists especially for the opening at http://www.strong-island.co.uk/2011/03/13/southsea-skatepark-opening-weekend-posters/. 

One of the Southsea Skate Park posters