Write a commentPolish native and Newry resident Robert Seredynski has spent a lot of time researching and investigating the possibility of a Skate Park for Newry and has come up with a plan of how the Park might look on the waste ground where the North Street Flats formerly stood and feels such a facility would enhance our City and put it on par with many other Cities who have the facility already.
Robert stated "When I saw for the first time some bladers in Cracow in 1997 on the Market Place jumping over a bench and sliding on the ledge, I knew this is what I wanted to do. After a few months I bought my first pair of rollerblade and start skating in my home city Jastrzebie Zdrój. In the meantime I met others bladers, kids who found their passion in Rollerblading, Skateboarding and BMX. Some of these people are still skating even at my age, nearly 30 years old. For some of them it is a life style, love and passion for their life."
"I am trying to attract other people to this sport. I live in Newry over 5 years and stopped skating, because I had to focus on my Job in my new home but I still miss skating."
"This year I decided to start again but Newry is a not a good City for people to cultivate this type of sport. As in every city even without good skate park, skaters can find some smooth ledges (eg.granite) because we are very creative. Newry is a place where the local Council and private developers haven't invested in new buildings and surroundings with the result that most pavements are very old and rough. I decided to start a Newry Skatepark Petition through Facebook."
"The pictures are only an example of a location as Newry Council might have their own plans for this place, but after few years untouched, It doesn't seem so. Newry really need some green space and beside the skatepark, parents could watch their kids and relax. I have designed one even in 3D to show how Newry might benefit from a Skate Park. Sometimes I see some kids on Hill Street skating together. Some of them are probably still skating but many others have maybe given up and I am not surprised."
"Skating is a sport of the 21st century and this is what we need. Help kids find their passion, show them, there are better way to spend time than in a pub, so why not give them a chance? Antisocial behavior costs much more than it would cost to build such a park. I have noticed something else, mostly my friends who are skating or were doing it in the past, received good education at University. Extreme sports is also a fight with your own fear and it teaches you how to be creative. Sometimes through skating, we found our professions like camera operators (good example Vinny Minton pro skater and good camera operator), Video Montage and we also gain new friendships sometimes for life."
"In my home city we heard there was no money for such a place but kids got together and fought and now there is 2 Skate Parks, a small one and a larger one which can host competitions. http://vimeo.com/14941754?ab
'The nearest skatepark from Newry is in Monaghan with another in Belfast. Dundalk I can't even call a skatepark because it is not worth our attention. There is better south of the border but how many kids can afford to travel such distance just for skating?"
"How do we get money for it? The European Union, Local Newry Sponsors? In Pulawy in Poland prisoners even built one. I thing everything is possible if we really want to get something!
