Manning organisation Taree Indigenous Development and Employment (TIDE) are gearing up to establish a MidCoast skate park user group, designed for Taree youth to address community issues and needs.
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Plans have also been announced to create a core group of volunteers that would be tasked with regular park clean ups and the organisation of youth development days. TIDE will be applying for government funding to assist with the projects.
TIDE coordinator Jon Taylor said the developments are a long term goal but are hopeful of commencing later this year.
“Skate parks are a place that the youth of every town like to own as their bit of community space.
“TIDE, with the support of MidCoast Council, have been running informal workshops to engage with the youth and to encourage them to activate their skate park in a positive way.
“TIDE have encouraged the youth to support MidCoast Council by helping to clean up any rubbish, identify areas of the skate park that require maintenance and possible areas of risk that should be addressed to minimise skate park user injuries,” Mr Taylor said.
Mr Taylor added that similar groups could be set up among all skate parks in the MidCoast region.
MidCoast Council’s youth engagement officer Russell Ingram continues to hold weekly consultations with skate park users to develop ways of improving the facilities.
As part of National Youth Week, over 30 children took to the skate park to put the final touches to new artwork for the site.
The park had become victim to recent unauthorised tagging so local artists Alex Watson and Nicolle Duncan were tasked with motivating other youth to create new designs. Coffs Harbour’s Ash Johnston was also hired.
Mr Taylor understood the benefits of encouraging the youth to lead by example.
“Positive activation of the parks develop a positive atmosphere that results in higher usage, more families coming to the park and a higher skill base among the skate park users.”