There had been an extensive, privately-run skate park in Zoo Field which was demolished in 1981. In July 2004 a new, public skate park was built on the present site south of Britannia Way near the Alma Road entrance.
This too was demolished and replaced in late 2011 with an improved design by the specialist suppliers, Freestyle. It had a large street section and a bowl section, all finished in super-smooth concrete. The street section was designed to emulate a typical street terrain with obstacles such as stairs, railings, planters and benches whilst the bowl section aimed to improve skating techniques with curved walls that allowed skaters to ride around the bowl, as well as back and forth.
In 2018, Freestyle refurbished and expanded the skate park to include a training bowl for skaters, additional seating for spectators and a snake run which quickly became popular with skaters and BMX riders. A quarter pipe and “slappy kerb” were also installed together with a free-running, parkour area. The enhancements were celebrated with a parkour event on 21st July 2018, which saw participants trying to negotiate a set course in the fastest time.
