A multi-million-dollar skate park proposed for Nelson's Saxton Field could become a breeding ground for future Olympic champions, with a design featuring one of the deepest bowls in the country.
Concept designs for the $6.3 million facility were unveiled during a joint council committee meeting earlier this month. The approximately 4000-square-metre park is set to be built at Avery Field, part of the Saxton Field sportsground complex jointly managed by Nelson City and Tasman District Councils.
The two councils are contributing $300,000 each, with the remaining funds to be raised through community fundraising. Skate Nelson Bays chair Douglas Jackson told Local Democracy Reporting that fundraising efforts are expected to kick off later in October.
“We've got the passion, and so we're quite excited to get this fundraising going,” he said. “We all know that there's a financial crisis and stuff like that. But there are people that are willing to donate... so we'll just have to see what comes out.”
What makes this skate park different?
The park has three distinct zones: a beginners' section, an advanced street section, and a large skating bowl up to 12 feet deep, which would meet international benchmarks and rank among the deepest bowls in the country.
“This is what you need to grow Olympians. Skateboarding is now an Olympic sport, so you might have Olympians coming from this region,” Jackson said. “People from even Australia would come to ride this bowl because of its size and significance.”
Who will the skate park serve?
The park has been designed in consultation with a range of users and will cater to skaters, BMXers, roller skaters and bladers, scooter riders, and those in wheelchairs. Once built, it would provide a place for people to build connections, grow their skills, and get exercise.
“It's a very healthy place to build confidence and find a community, and it's also for recreational activities,” Jackson said. “The more skaters that are grown from this facility, it's just going to create more life everywhere else, in the neighbouring skate parks.”
Region's elected members on the joint Saxton Field committee were “very excited” by the project, with Tasman councillor Mike Kininmonth calling the skate park a “golden opportunity” for local youth.
Why Avery Field was chosen
Nelson City Council's manager of capital projects, Rebecca Dawkins, said Avery Field was selected after consultation with residents ruled out the Circus Green location. Ease of access for Nelson and Tasman residents, proximity to bus stops, toilets, and parking, and open lines of sight to enable a safe environment were key factors considered.
Locating the skate park alongside the inclusive playspace being developed elsewhere at Saxton Field was also considered but opted against due to the different audiences and requirements of the two facilities, Dawkins said.
What's next for the project?
The trajectory of the fundraising will determine the construction timeline and final scope of the project, with a round of public consultation expected to inform the final design. To date, the two councils have jointly spent $38,000 on design and investigation work for the park.
“The Nelson Tasman region is lucky to have such a motivated and well-organised community organisation, in Skate Nelson Bays, advocating for what will be a well-used facility in the region,” Dawkins said.
For a region that already punches above its weight in outdoor recreation, this project represents more than just concrete and ramps. It's an investment in community wellbeing, youth development, and the kind of inclusive public spaces that define modern Aotearoa.