By Mikayla van Loon
Over 200 Montrose residents have signed a petition calling for a skate park in the suburb as a way to create a safe, social space for local children and adults.
The lead petitioner Sigrid Petersen has watched her two young sons take on skating as a hobby and making the move from Lilydale to Montrose in coming weeks, Sigrid would love to see a local skate park for her boys to use.
“We spend many, many hours at the Mount Evelyn Skatepark and when we do move we will have the primary school in walking distance, the football oval in walking distance and grandparent as well,” she said.
“So I guess the only thing missing for our family is a bit more life and skateboard activity.”
With the number of local schools, kindergartens and high schools catering for a younger population, Sigrid said parents are currently having to drive either to Mount Evelyn, Lilydale or Croydon for a skatepark.
Although some feedback has been negative from local residents worried about the type of behaviour a skatepark might bring, Sigrid said overall the reaction had been positive.
“I rang the local Mount Evelyn Police Station to get some feedback and they said they’ve had no issues there whatsoever and that Mount Evelyn and Montrose are quite lucky because there’s no train Station.
“So I just thought we need some activities for the kids after Covid and my kids have really just started doing it and they’ve picked it up pretty quickly and they love it and enjoy it very much,” she said.
Montrose Township Group president Chelsey Cooper said an idea of this kind had circulated a number of years ago, with nothing coming to fruition but Sigrid’s energy for the project has reinvigorated the proposal.
“It’s been a very energetic and focused approach, and given the comments we’ve seen so far in the Facebook page, there are mixed feelings about it, which is what I suspected would happen,” Chelsey said.
“Interestingly though, the mixed feelings come from all ages – there are older people very supportive of having an active space for young people, while some people with younger families aren’t keen at all and vice versa.”
Chelsey said many of the concerns have been about antisocial behaviour and the location of the skatepark.
“The big question is whether there is enough community support behind the idea and where a skate park would be located – visibility will be key to discourage anti-social behaviour,” she said.
“Skate parks in Croydon and Mount Evelyn seem to have gotten placement right – all ages feel welcome and safe to skate there. Other towns have placed skate parks in less public areas and this has led to anti-social behaviour.
“From the Township Group’s perspective, we want to make sure exploring a skate park centres around supporting physical activity and social connection in a positive, and safe, way.”
For Sigrid, the placement of the skatepark doesn’t matter “as long as the council is happy and everybody’s happy.”
Hopeful it could be placed next to a playground or park, Sigrid said it wouldn’t have to be huge but just enough for some jumps and ramps to be included.
“I just [want to] at least strive for something, anything first. Scooters are quite popular at the moment as well and it would give them a safe space where they can all hang out.”
Having done research into the benefits of skateboarding as part of a proposal to the council, Sigrid said not only can it be good for the social and physical but for mental health as well.
“I think it would be a great thing for the council and I know it’s going to take time and be a process but I’m very keen and once I get locked in, I’m all steam ahead.”
To find the petition, go to www.change.org/p/montrose-skatepark-proposal
