NEW PROGRAMS FOR BILLY BOWLER SKATE PARK

A partnership has been formed between the City of Mandurah, the Mandurah City Rotary Club and Street Net Youth Outreach Service to educate park users, especially around the Billy Bowler Skate Park area, about the negative impacts of littering.

The program will start as soon as the weather clears up with volunteers from the Rotary Club present every Friday night for a month initially, then every fortnight for another four weeks, then monthly, to encourage users to pick up rubbish.

Acting Chief Executive Officer Allan Claydon said the City’s Youth Development Officer Michael Delo was also working on a funding application to fund a ‘Green and Clean’ litter and recycling education and awareness project for the Billy Bowler Skate Park.

“Country Arts WA will be approached to support a new sign design that is more youth friendly as signage at the park is due to be replaced,” Mr Claydon said.

“Discussions have also taken place with Skate Boarding Australia and the Perth YMCA to include Mandurah in the 2008 Summer Skateboarding State Round and the National titles.”

As part of a strategy to improve the Billy Bowler Skate Park and bring skate and BMX competitions to Mandurah, the City of Mandurah is also looking for local artists, particularly ‘urban artists’, interesting in working on a program to revamp the existing skate park.

Skate park users are keen to work in conjunction with a local artist as part of an urban arts program to eliminate some of the uglier tagging and transform it into a bright and colourful exhibit.

The proposed urban arts program will be coordinated through the Youth Development Officer and the Coordinator of the Stretch Arts Festival.

RELEASE ENDS

3 October 2008