Starting the Conversation
Three days of conversations, ideas and inspiration helped kick-start the design process for an exciting new urban sports and community park in Portrush.
At the beginning of September, we welcomed specialist skatepark designers Betongpark to Portrush for a series of site visits, conversations and workshops to explore the potential of Metropole Park.
Working alongside CAUS (Causeway Association of Urban Sports), local skaters, surf-skaters, businesses, community representatives and Council stakeholders, the visit was an opportunity to understand what makes Portrush unique and what people would like to see from the future park.
One of the strongest messages was that Portrush is already a town with a real outdoor sports culture. With its beaches, surf schools, cycling routes and growing skateboarding community, there is a fantastic opportunity to build on what already exists.
There was enthusiasm for creating something distinctive – not simply a traditional skatepark, but a skateable civic plaza and urban park that could become a destination for locals and visitors alike.
Conversations with local skaters and sports users generated some specific ideas for the design.
Suggestions included:
- Skate bowls, mini ramps, snake runs and street skating features.
- Smooth, flat concrete areas for surf-skate, longboarding and roller skating.
- A pump track and opportunities for BMX.
- Features suitable for beginners through to more experienced users.
- Integrated transitions, banks, stairs, ledges and obstacles.
There was also a clear desire to make the facilities accessible and welcoming to different ages, abilities, and styles of skating.
The conversations also explored how Metropole Park could become a wider community destination. Ideas included play facilities, bouldering, basketball, community gardens, wild planting, family areas, and places to sit and watch the activity.
Stakeholders highlighted the importance of connecting the park with the town centre, beaches, schools and existing cycling and walking routes. There was also discussion about how the space could support Portrush's busy events calendar, including the North West 200, while remaining a welcoming everyday community space.
Following the site visits, the project team and Council stakeholders came together to explore the emerging design principles, practical considerations, and opportunities for the site.
The enveloping concept brings together skateboarding, pump track, play, community space, movement routes, and biodiversity, with the landscape helping to connect the different activities.
The design remains at an early stage, and the aim is to develop an ambitious vision while keeping the proposals flexible and allowing the community to influence what comes next.
The September visit was the starting point for a wider programme of community engagement, including school workshops, free skate sessions, and a public consultation.
A huge thank you to everyone who gave their time, shared their experience, and helped us start imagining what Metropole Park could become.
