The asset project was invited to hold an asset-mapping event on Wednesday August 1st with the children and young people who attend the skatepark initiative in Luggie park. It was a cracking day attended by over 76 people of varying ages.ย The resultant asset map is currently being developed and will be available shortly. The skatepark is unique as it is the only one of its kind and is obviously seen as a great local asset by those who attend from across the whole of East Dunbartonshire.
At this event, we really valued having the opportunity to speak to younger people from across East Dunbartonshire about the local assets that they find useful for their well-being. It was interesting to hear (and map) the different places that young people like to use to hang out, socialise with friends and mess around. Having a place to do this was seen as crucially important for the young people’s well-being.
The skatepark initiative itself shows how collectively the young people got together (and engaged their friends, families, little sisters, uncles and grandmas) to create change in their local environment. The whole community owns a part of its success, and in creating the skatepark and involving people in its development the community has seen that the young people of east dunbartonshire are important and responsible citizens when they are given the opportunity.
NB: Kirkintilloch Skatepark was the dream of local youngsters for many years.ย The first petition by skaters went in to the local Council in 1987 and their demands featured regularly in the local paper, the Kirkintilloch Herald.ย In 2003, East Dunbartonshire Council agreed to work in partnership with a local charity, Kirkintilloch Skatepark Initiative or KSI as it is now known.ย ย The Council gave the KSI the site and the youngsters raised the money to build an open access concrete skatepark at a cost of ยฃ458,000 opened in 2009. Today KSI run competitions, events and coaching at the skatepark and the Council has adopted the skatepark and does the repair and maintenance.