Official opening date set for Rainworth skate park

Work on the £260,000 project, which has been in the pipeline for three years started after a mammoth fundraising effort, is to officially open on Saturday, August 15 at 11am.

Mum Clare Salmon, of the Rainworth Skatepark Association association, came up with the idea for the park off Kirklington Road because Rainworth is desperately short of play facilities for youngsters of all ages.

She said: “The skate park is coming on really well.

“We are really pleased with it and everyone is really excited about having a go on it. The play area is already open - the last bit of concrete is due to go on in August and everything will be good to go.”

The Skate park was due to open in July but work was prolonged after vandals set fire to a gazebo which had to be rebuilt.

Clare said: “I want to thank Linda Parker and her husband who rebuilt it for us and Rainworth Fencing and Peggs in Mansfield Woodhouse, who donated wood for the fencing.”

The park has evolved into a true community project, with funding from a host of sources, including £75,000 from WREN, a not-for-profit business that awards grants from landfill tax.

WREN boss Peter Cox said: “This will be a fantastic space for local people to get outdoors and have fun. We are delighted to support it.”

A total of £130,000 has come from the developers of three housing schemes in Rainworth, while £50,000 has been awarded from Notts County Council’s supporting local communities fund.

Clare said such co-operation was “the way forward for improving communities”.

She also thanked Rainworth Parish Council, who will maintain the park, and Newark and Sherwood District Council for their support.

The land has been leased from Rainworth Welfare for a peppercorn rent.