Bournebrook DIY Skate Park Spotlight
Bournebrook DIY is located in selly oak birmingham just down the road from the train station. Bournebrook used to be a recreational green space that had been unused for decades meaning it was filled with overgrown bushes and piles of waste.
Local skater and resident Shaun Boyle felt driven to make a difference during the first lockdown. Shaun started clearing the bushes and waste and with other skaters, built a small skateable ledge. The project grew and Shaun was joined by many volunteers within the local skateboarding and resident community. The volunteers cleared the whole area to build various concrete skatepark features, re-digging verges, planting flowers and small trees, drawing on the expertise of a diverse user and resident community. Birmingham City Council initially expressed reservations about the skatepark's construction, but the volunteer team received backing from experienced skatepark construction experts. A skatepark project of this size and scale would’ve cost over £150,000 to build by a construction firm, but the project has been completed for just under £7,000, most of this crowdfunded, with some additional support provided by Skateboard GB and backed by Habito, Selco Building Supplies and Vans and in September 2021 Bournbrook was crowned the first-ever DIY park in the UK to be given formal skatepark status and officially opened to the public.
Bournbrook DIY has everything you need to skateboard whether you've just started skateboarding or you have been skating 20 - 30 years. The skatepark features Flat Banks, ledges, some quarters, a pyramid box and some flat ground. Bourn brook diy also hosts free skateboarding coaching sessions. Perfect for newbies, beginners and just about all ages and abilities who want to pick up a skateboard and have hand learning something new.
Bournbrook DIY is for the people completely built by volunteers and skaters, there is also a community garden located next to the skatepark, skaters frequently contribute their old decks to the area, making them freely available for anyone who wants them. The communal space itself is ingeniously constructed using reclaimed pallets and discarded skateboards.
