Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Community Assets Service has been working with The Youth Work Team and a group of young people from Stranraer to co-design a brand-new Ramp Park facility in Stair Park and are excited to finally see their plans become reality as the park is officially unveiled.
The council’s investment of £84,000.00 in the park was enhanced by the young people’s fundraising efforts to reach the funding goal of £101,800.00 and has enabled the removal of the former metal ramps that have now been replaced by a new, modern concrete facility.
The Council has praised the young people who have been involved in this project and have contributed countless hours consulting with their peers, working with contractors to design the layout of the park and the new features, fundraising part of the costs and attending planning meetings. Their input has also meant that the skate ramp area will include seating, litter bins and a tarred path with additional entrance to the site – making sure it’s fully accessible.
Adding to the look and feel of the park, 8 legal graffiti boards have been installed, allowing budding street artists to practice the art without breaking the law. Last weekend, renowned street artist Tragic O’Hara was on hand to help young people get the project off the ground. Over 40 young people turned up to take part in the taster day that was funded by Stranraer Youth Café, that included developing their own tags and practising different spraying techniques. Further sessions have been planned to take place over the summer months.
Councillor Ian Blake, Chair of the council’s Communities Committee said: “We committed to working with our local communities to ensure spaces meet their needs. Investment in projects such as this are a priority for our administration, and we encourage any community organisation to speak to their ward officer to explore other local development opportunities.
“We also want to support young people to develop their skills and use their imagination. We know that Graffiti done right, can be an integral part of an area’s cultural identity, and that’s why we have installed legal spaces in Stranraer where young people can be creative while learning about the history and etiquette behind graffiti art.”
With Phase one of the project complete, the teams are now looking to the future of the ramp park and considering further improvements that they will focus on achieving over the next year.
Cloe Allison, Youth Councillor for Stranraer & The Rhins said: “It’s been a challenging and sometimes frustrating process being involved in a big project like this, but it has been worth the wait. We have learned a lot from the experience and we will continue to put our all our energy into the project! We are grateful to the Stranraer Common Good Fund for their financial support.”
Councillor Jackie McCammon, Vice Chair of the council’s Communities Committee said: “We are delighted to have had the opportunity to work in partnership with local young people on this project. Their input and patience has been instrumental in getting the project complete and ensuring that we are meeting the needs of young people and the community.
“It’s been great to see so many young people getting involved in the project. It’s great that they have been able to be involved in the development of the park, but exploring different styles and techniques of art and putting their own stamp on the ramp park is really important for their personal development – and their sense of ownership. The boards brighten up the area and an excellent way to showcase the amazing talents of our region’s young people.”
For more information on any of the FREE activities on offer in your area through the Youth Work Team, check out Youth Work DG on Facebook, SnapChat and Twitter; their website: www.youthwork.dumgal.gov.uk or contact at [email protected]
