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Folkestone skate park, F51, to open this summer
06:00, 07 February 2020
updated: 08:54, 07 February 2020
Folkestone's one-of-a-kind urban sports park is now expected to open in the summer.
The ambitious complex, titled F51, is currently being built on the corner of Tontine Street and Dover Road and will include skating facilities, a boxing gym, function room and café.
Work to create the multi-million pound project has been ongoing since 2015, when it was first proposed, and following a series of delays is now expected to open in the summer months.
It comes as new images have been revealed by Cambian Action Sports, which designs, manufactures and installs high quality sports facilities, showing the floor plans for levels two and three - which will be dedicated to skating.
The second floor, the 'street' level, will feature 700sqm of skateable timber and will be home to a wide range of street-inspired obstacles such as stair sets, ledges, handrails and more.
It is also where the flat and more mellow areas of the park will be found, providing beginners with a solid and varied space to learn while still offering plenty of challenges and inspiration to experienced riders and skaters.
The 'flow' floor will occupy level three and will be home to over 650sqm of wooden skate surface and will include wallrides, volcanoes, waterfalls, blends and hips.
Project manager Alex Frost, from Shepway Sports Trust, said: "Not only will this floor offer plenty of challenges for experienced skaters and riders, it will also be perfect for beginners learning to ride transition due to its wide variety of quarters and hips."
The reception, cafe, boxing area, shower and changing facilities will all be located on the ground floor.
A function room will also be added, with Mr Frost saying "lots of exciting events and clubs" are planned to run within these spaces.
The first floor will feature two concrete bowls, which have been built and designed by Maverick Skatepark.
It will also be home to the climbing and bouldering areas, although the exact details of these are yet to be revealed.
The project is being funded and developed by the Roger De Haan Charitable Trust as part of a wave of regeneration plans for the town.
It will ultimately be managed by the Shepway Sports Trust.
It has received celebrity endorsements over the years from American rapper MC Hammer and pro-skater Bam Margera.
But it has faced many snags since it was first proposed due to its ambitious design, escalating costs and issues with cladding.
