Sports Lounge – 15 November 2025
Work has begun on a major upgrade at the skatepark in King George’s Playing Fields, Swanage, following a successful community fundraising effort that raised £75,000.
The first phase of the project introduces a brand-new “street scene” layout to replace the old metal ramps that were removed in 2023 for safety reasons. Specialist firm King Ramps has now started construction, with prefabricated sections delivered from their Cambridgeshire workshop and installed on-site this week.
Organisers aim to have the new setup completed by December 2025—just in time for the Christmas holidays, weather permitting.
Community efforts powering the rebuild
The revival has been driven by the Swanage Skatepark Community Project (SSCP) with support from local groups including Swanage and Purbeck Rotary and Swanage Carnival. Funding has also come from the Talbot Village Trust, The Valentine Trust and match-funding from Sport England. One memorable fundraising moment included a local resident, Tony, singing outside the White Swan pub to raise money for the park.
Project lead Heidi Florence said:
“This is a big moment for the project – absolutely huge … the call-out now is for the community, especially young people, to hang out down here and make the most of the new ramps once they are fully installed. It’s your skate park!”
Phase 2 already planned
Following completion of the main ramps, the next stage will focus on installing beginner-friendly features aimed at younger riders and families. This second phase is expected to cost around £80,000 due to additional surfacing requirements. SSCP has already been chosen as a beneficiary of the Co-op community fund for the 2025–2026 period, which will help drive future fundraising.
A boost for local sport and youth activity
This upgrade isn’t just about replacing equipment—it’s about revitalising a key space for action sports, youth activity and community events. The modernised skatepark will support skaters, BMX riders and scooter users of all ages, while offering a safe and inspiring environment for local talent to develop.
