Skelly Skate Park officially opened

A new £300,000 skate park in a Lincoln-area village has already proved to be a huge success.

Skelly Skatepark is an extension to recreational space at Monson Park, Skellingthorpe, featuring ramps, rails, bowls, steps and part-pipes so it offers a free-access sporting challenge for a broad range of ages. 

The facility was part-funded with money allocated through developer contributions for community facilities and was the brainchild of villagers led by the Skellingthorpe Parish Council.

The park opened in time for the school holidays but was recently officially opened this week by Chair of North Kesteven District Council Cllr Chris Goldson, a long-standing representative for the village, alongside Parish Council Chair Cllr Caroline Coyle-Fox. 

The project was instigated back in 2023 by residents Matt and Debbie Scarborough. Along with their two sons Charlie and Robin, they approached the Parish Council and put forward their idea, supported by a petition signed by many children and parents. 

After a lot of negotiating, planning and ground reports by Matt and Debbie, it attracted £161,700 in funding from the National Lottery and received £130,000 from S106 monies held by the District Council from Section 106 contributions statutorily collected from developers to support community facilities and infrastructure.

Cllr Goldson said: “This is one of the fantastic days when at long last we can see the money that was contributed towards our community being used in this way. 

“I thank everybody who has been involved in this project, but especially Matt and Debbie because without them driving it hard from the word go, and continuing to drive it hard to this point, we wouldn’t have this incredible facility. It is great credit to them that they’ve done that. 

“Thank you to everybody else as well along the way who has made it all possible.”

Parish Councillor chair Cllr Coyle-Fox added: “I’d like to thank Matt and Debbie who came up with the idea of a Skate Park to entertain adults and young children alike. 

“I’d also like to thank North Kesteven District Council, Wheelscape for their design and build, and the National Lottery for funding to be able to help to build the skate park.”