About Ferndale Indoor Skate Park

Current

Ferndale Skate Park was founded by local community minded residents of Tylorstown who were very concerned to see so many young people ‘hanging around’ local bus shelters, on benches, or down by the river with nothing to do and nowhere to go. Consequently these young people were seen to being drawn into under age drinking of alcohol, drug abuse and vulnerable to the exploiters of such young people.

They like so many others hoped ‘someone’ would do something to help these young people... but then decided rather than wait they would try and provide a facility that these Young People said they would like to have.

The group formed themselves into a Non Profit Making Limited Company with a Voluntary Board of Directors, with the assistance of the Wales Co-Operative Society, and applied for Grant funding from the Big Lottery Reaching Out Grant, CFAP Welsh Office Community Grant, Coalfields Regeneration Grant, and The Sports Council of Wales. The Company was successful with all the Grants but did not quite satisfy the Sports Council Grant body, so with the help of the Coalfields who increased their grant funding, the Sporting Marvels based in the Rhondda who through their linking with the Skate Park enabled us to obtain a ‘last minute ‘grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation, and the funding package completed by the WCVA who provided the Company with their ‘first community loan’.

It was a hard struggle for nearly two years but in July 2006 the Skate Park became a reality and the development of the Unit began. Staff were interviewed and selected all within the local community with priority given those who needed the opportunity of employment most, again the main emphasis being with empathy with the local Young People and their situations, ‘heart for the Youth and Young Adults of the locality’.

The Skate Park’s aim is to be a safe haven for all, with no smoking, no alcohol, no drugs allowed within or around it, with caring, friendly staff.

The Skate Park opened its doors for the first time on 11th December 2006, and it has brought great joy to the Company to see so many Young People come and enjoy the facilities provided which include;

• Indoor Skateboarding
• Roller-blading
• BMX bike riding over professional ramps built by Evolution Ramps.
• Pool on a slate bed pool table.
• Play-station games on two separate consoles attached to two televisions.
• Table football.
• Snack Cafeteria serving good hot food at very good prices!
• Internet Cafe
• Birthday parties can be held by special arrangement.

Other facilities to come very shortly include:

• Chess Tournaments
• and hopefully Sky Sports / Music Satellite Television.