School becomes first to get new $200,000 skate park
By James Gamble
A state school has become the first in Britain to get its own skate park.
Folkestone Academy's new $198,000 facility is available to students during school days and to the wider community at weekends.
There are also plans to use it for PE lessons in the future.
Skateboard GB, the nation's governing body, says Kent is fast becoming the UK's "capital"of skateboarding.
A $17m multi-storey F51 skate park, also in Folkestone, is believed to be the first purpose-built, multi-storey skate park in the world.
Skateboarding has seen its profile grow in Britain in the wake of teenager Sky Brown's success at last year's Paris Olympics.
Neil Ellis, head of engagement at Skateboard GB, confirmed Folkestone's Academy's skate park is the first with a "concrete bowl" at a state school.
And he said: "There has definitely been a growth in the number of youngsters turned off by competitive sports.
"We are always playing to win, whereas in skateboarding, you are competing against yourself. It's freedom of expression and it's a massive step forward.
"There are many more schools bringing in skateboarding; Northern Ireland and Wales are implementing skateboarding into their curriculum.
"Kent does really well in skateboarding at schools; Canterbury Academy do a lot as well. F51 is the first, purpose-built multi-storey skate park in the world and also the most expensive skate park ever built in the UK.
"Margate is looking to build the biggest outdoor skate park in the country in the next two years."
Folkestone Academy also say the skating facilities are encouraging students disinterested in other aspects of education to go to school and have even improved attendance.
"That's a definite win," Mr Ellis continued. "Kids look forward to the skateboard sessions as part of their school day.
"It's adding value to their days."
The opening of the skate park at Folkestone Academy - part of Kent-based academy trust Turner Schools - earlier this month was attended by local families as well as pro skaters who enjoyed live DJ sets, coaching and giveaways.
The $198,000 facility, designed by British-Norwegian company Betongpark, was mainly funded by charity Friends of Folkestone Academy (FFA).
The post School becomes first to get new $200,000 skate park appeared first on Talker.
Copyright Talker News. All Rights Reserved.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
At 47 years old, Gabrielle Rose finishes 7th in 100-meter breaststroke finals at U.S. Nationals
Gabrielle Rose might be 47 years old, but she's still one of the best breaststroke swimmers in the country. Nearly three decades after qualifying for her first Olympics, Rose finished seventh in the finals of the 100-meter breaststroke at the U.S. Swimming National Championships on Friday, falling short of qualifying for the world championships but still defying her age. Advertisement Rose posted a time of 1:08.54, close to her personal best of 1:08.32 and roughly three seconds behind champion Kate Douglass. Three-time Olympic gold medallist Lilly King, who plans to retire after this season, finished second. The one swimmer Rose finished ahead of in the final was the youngest person in the pool, Elle Scott. She was born in 2007. To make the final, Rose had to make the top 8 of a field of 60 swimmers, with every competitor at least 19 years younger than her. Every single one of those 59 other swimmers was born after Rose made her first Olympics in 1996, when she competed in the 100-meter butterfly, 200-meter individual medley and 100-meter freestyle for Team Brazil. Advertisement The Rio de Janeiro native and Stanford graduate switched to representing the U.S. in 1999. After Rose, the oldest swimmer was King at 28 years old. Per SwimSwam, Rose was the oldest swimmer to ever qualify for a championship final at a U.S. Olympic or Worlds Trial meet. Following her two Olympic berths in 1996 and 2000, Rose retired from competitive swimming in 2004 at age 26 after being struck with mononucleosis shortly before the Olympic trials. Per World Aquatics, her passion for the sport was reignited when she focused on fulfilling her late father's wish of preserving an Olympic-sized pool in her hometown. Advertisement Rose made a surprise return to elite competition in 2022 and reached the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, where she reached the semifinals 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke. Despite being in her mid-40s, she managed to make it a step further one year later. She also competed in the 50-meter breaststroke, placing 15th, and the 200-meter breaststroke, placing 19th.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
At 47 years old, Gabrielle Rose finishes seventh in 100-meter breaststroke finals at U.S. Nationals
Gabrielle Rose might be 47 years old, but she's still one of the best breaststroke swimmers in the country. Nearly three decades after qualifying for her first Olympics, Rose finished seventh in the finals of the 100-meter breaststroke at the U.S. Swimming National Championships, falling short of qualifying for the world championships but still defying her age. Advertisement Rose posted a time of 1:08.54, close to her personal best of 1:08.32 and roughly three seconds behind champion Kate Douglass. Three-time Olympic gold medallist Lilly King, who plans to retire after this season, finished second. The one swimmer Rose finished ahead of in the final was the youngest person in the pool, Elle Scott. She was born in 2007. To make the final, Rose had to make the top 8 of a field of 60 swimmers, with every competitor at least 19 years younger than her. Every single one of those 59 other swimmers were born after Rose made her first Olympics in 1996, when she competed in the 100-meter butterfly, 200-meter individual medley and 100-meter freestyle for Team Brazil. Advertisement The Rio de Janeiro native and Stanford graduate switched to representing the U.S. in 1999. After Rose, the oldest swimmer was King at 28 years old. Per SwimSwam, Rose was the oldest swimmer to ever qualify for a championship final at a U.S. Olympic or Worlds Trial meet. Following her two Olympic berths in 1996 and 2000, Rose retired from competitive swimming in 2004 at age 26 after being struck with mononucleosis shortly before the Olympic trials. Per World Aquatics, her passion for the sport was reignited when she focused on fulfilling her late father's wish of preserving an Olympic-sized pool in her hometown. Advertisement Rose made a surprise return to elite competition in 2022 and reached the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, where she reached as far as the semifinals 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke. Despite being in her mid-40s, she managed to reach a step further one years later. She also competed in the 50-meter breaststroke, placing 15th, and the 200-meter breaststroke, placing 19th.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Curling event that will prep you for the Olympic Trials
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) —An event is happening this weekend for the curling community of Sioux Falls, that is helping build excitement ahead of an even bigger event. It was a busy morning getting ready for the Tolvstad came from the Aberdeen area to help out. 'We're getting to the stage where we're going to start pebble scraping our final deal. We got our first game at 130, so we'll take it right to the limit to get this prepared and trying to make the best level of ice for an arena,' Aberdeen Curling Club, Mark Tolvstad said. 'We have 16 teams from Sioux Falls. We have eight teams from Omaha coming up. We have two teams from Aberdeen. We've got a couple coming from Brainerd, Minnesota, and we have even one coming from La Crosse, Wisconsin, all coming to town to play in this great, fun event,' Vice President, Sioux Falls Curling, Jennifer Farke said. The fun will continue through the weekend. Along with curling, there are also things for people who aren't competing. 'A lot of our local teams donated baskets to raffle off during. So people will buy raffle tickets during the event, and then we will draw and you get to put those raffles into a basket that you would like to win,' Farke said. This weekend's activities are expected to increase excitement for the Olympic Curling Trials coming to town. 'The curlers know that the trials are coming, and they're interested and excited and can't wait to show up during the event in November. But hopefully folks that don't know much about curling or are interested in it and want to come check it out,' President, Sioux Falls Sports Authority, Thomas Lee said. While you may not have what it takes to compete in the Olympics, this weekend will give you an appreciation for the sport. 'People that don't know how to play this or understand the game. We welcome you in, and we will have curlers up on the mezzanine. And everyone will happy to explain to anyone that doesn't understand curling what it is,' Farke said. 'This is a great community to be in. The curling community people are unbelievably great,' Tolvstad said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
