DESIGNS have been released for the development of an activity park on the Leith Links, including a skatepark, roller rink and pump track.
The council is working closely with the local skateboarding, BMX, and roller-skating communities as well as pupils from Leith Academy to deliver the proposals.
The plans are part of a wider ten-year masterplan for Leith Links, which is funded by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Thriving Greenspaces project.
Following a consultation in 2023, public feedback towards a skatepark/wheeled area was overwhelmingly positive.
Leith Links Activity Park is a group which campaigns for the transformation of the disused bowling greens in the park into an inclusive activity area.
The group has been creating plans and meeting with other community groups in order to help make them a reality.
In 2021, the council began working towards redeveloping Leith Links, creating discussions with the local groups regarding their plans.
A Leith Links working group was created, made up of council staff, representatives from the community council, organisations, and local members of the community.
They agreed on a final draft masterplan in March 2022 and sought feedback – to which they received over 780 responses.
Over 90% responded positively to the plan, with a large amount of support for a skating, biking, and rollerblading area.
Now, designs for the park have been drafted by renowned skatepark designers Betongpark and engineering consultants AtkinsRéalis.
The drawings show that two large rinks are proposed, with one slightly deeper than the other, and a surrounding plaza.
Leith Links Activity Park wrote online yesterday: “The designs are in.
“Following on from the October 2023 consultation on proposals for the Leith Links Activity Hub, the Thriving Greenspaces team – in collaboration with Betongpark and AtkinsRéalis – have now released detailed designs for the skatepark, roller rink and pump track.
“The design process included workshops with representatives from the local skateboarding, BMX and rollerskating communities, alongside an engagement with pupils from Leith Academy run by A Place in Childhood.
“Over the past 18 months, we’ve supported the process whenever possible – introducing the design team to local groups such as Cats Skate Club, Skateboobs and Edinburgh Roller Skating Association and providing feedback as the designs developed.
“More than 1,000 people responded to the October 2023 consultation, with 84% supporting the activity hub proposals.
“A skatepark, pump track and roller rink were among the most popular ideas – and we hope these designs bring that vision a step closer to reality.”
Leith Links Activity Park will be at the Leith Gala on 14 June to talk about the designs and answer any questions from the public.
