Solihull's skate park in Tudor grange Park is now open. Use this page to post your comments and suggestions.

Posted Wednesday, July 7, 2004
I just wanted to say a massive thank you to Morag and everyone else who helped set up a brilliant skateboarding competition on Sunday 4th July. What a great day for all the skaters, and everyone else who took part in the comps. And the prizes were brilliant. Even the torrential rain could not stop the enthusiasm of the skaters. The stewards pulled off an absolute miracle to get the surface dried out and ready for skating again. The attitude of the skaters, competitors and spectators should be highly applauded, what a brilliant group of people. I look forward to seeing another skating event at Solihull in the near future. I hope plenty of money was raised to improve the facilities at the skate park ie...flood lighting, CCTV camera system ect...Once again thank you Morag and everyone else who helped organise the successful event.
Richard (Jordan Green)

Posted Monday, February 16, 2004
Tudor Grange isn't bad but it would be better if it had a few more ramps.  There is a comp there soon and donations will be made for further construction
Lets just say "lid"

Posted Sunday, January 18, 2004
Hi Rick McCrank,
Well I cant comment on the press reports etc. I don't want to get involved in local politics. As for the "coping", as a rider I would prefer smooth angles, not metal strips all over the ramps; but as a ramp builder we have to comply with all the new buro legislation and necessary safety requirements that make the supply of ramps possible in this "claims direct" society. Ramp design is compromised now a days whereas 5 years ago you could build more or less what you want. My point is that is modern constraints, the ramp park is at least there, free, for anyone. try to enjoy skating with what is possible
Dave @ Clever Curves

Posted Saturday, January 17, 2004
To Dave @ clever curves, 80k was the figure quoted in the all the local press. Did the papers make this figure up or were they given a false price in order to make the council look good?
Whilst I do commend Solihull council for getting something built, lets be honest, its pants. The ramps may be solidly built but the design of the ones on the street course is terrible. Bad transitions, and what's with that coping stuff on the funbox?
I skated better stuff in the early 90's knocked up by Stampy & Co at Wheels!!!
Rick McCrank

Posted Saturday, January 17, 2004
I read some comments here with dismay. Allot of people seem to have opinions on things without knowing the facts. For a start the park in Solihull did NOT cost £80K. (try £32K). The original plan was for a larger park but due to various reasons (budget) the plan was scaled down. The installed ramps are actually only the smaller part (beginners section) of the overall plan; I understand that the rest of the equipment will be installed another day.
Another point that needs to be made is the riding surface is NOT plastic, it is Skatelite Pro as used in the X games and on Tony hawks and Matt Hoffman's home ramps; plastic would be just about the worst surface you could use, timber and Skatelite are the favoured choice of true sportsmen, but due to the maintenance requirements of timber they chose the much more expensive Skatelite Pro (it costs £160 / sheet fitted). I realise that the small park is not going to satisfy everyone's personal tastes, but at least the local council has made an effort to supply their community with a facility. When I was riding as a teenager, (15 years ago) there where NO council built ramps at all. We didn't complain, but built a 10 ft Vert in my mums garden from any old timber we could scavenge and it formed part of the riding scene for 7 years. It created 2 world champions and many other top class riders & skaters. Don't sit and moan, try making the best of what you have got and enjoy skating /!
riding as its meant to be.
Dave @ Clever Curves

Posted Sunday, December 7, 2003
Jalabad - The only reason you can't skate the big ramps at Redditch is because you are a well uummm... a sh*te skater. Perhaps that is why you can only drop in as you say. Back in the day when Birmingham wheels was the only place for a hundred miles around with ramps every one had to skate a spine mini and a 12 foot vert we all adapted. I was at Redditch when the Spitfire tour was there a few years ago and saw John Cardiel and Tony Trujillo go off all over the park and some of the locals are good too so you have no excuse. I'm no knocking small stuff as it can be fun to skate and it is good for beginners like Jalabad.
The large street course is designed with bikes in mind and the new section, you like, for skaters. I started out skating vert learning how to use the transitions. I've herd they're going to get some small fly offs and rails next year and build some dirt jumps for BMX. I know they've got some money (lots) and are looking into the possibility of a concrete section. Paying to go into there isn't a bad idea as it pays some one to look after you do first aid and it keeps the troublemakers out as free and open access skate parks are free and open to more problems. So slipknot kid strap your board to your backpack and go home and play your Tony Hawk Playstation game as it is you who don't appreciate what you have there as I wish it were like that when I were a kid.

Anyway enough of that judging by what I can see on this site is that some are happy with the set up but most are not happy. What I think has gone wrong here is poor communication and consultation. What should of happened here was that the council and youth workers should of set up a steering committee of skaters and riders and set up a series if design workshops involving some experienced users then in turn getting second opinions of some people in the industry right the way from beginning to the end of all processes. It seems a shame that all to often in the new skate park boom that it seems a case that skaters need a skate park who go to the council and then it is left in the hands of the council and that's where the communication stops. Then the council trust in the expertise of a ramp building company. Then something appears not to your liking. It may be possible that the ramp builders had to work within a budget that the council set. The park could have been designed with something for everyone at all levels. Shame after all this hype that there are a lot of people who expected something better.
On a more positive note it's a good chance to build on this and the council should learn a lesson and consult more closely with the users. Go back and try to extend the park. So listen up Solihull Council
A Nurse

Posted Friday, November 14, 2003
The park is ok 2 skate, for beginners anyway. I can see some peoples points of view about extending the park it would be better 'cuz when I've been down there u hardly get chance to have a go on the ramps it gets real crowded quite quick. there should be an extended part so that the more advanced skaters can use that new part and the beginners can use the bit that's there now.
Rebecca

Posted Wednesday, November 12, 2003
Perhaps a floodlight or at least some street lamps for the area.
Now that its coming towards winter the park will be used less and less due to the darkness. You can't see a thing down at the park at night.
Daniel

Posted Tuesday, November 11, 2003
The park is tiny why can't you give it a few vert ramps.
Michael

Posted Tuesday, October 14, 2003
The Parks Good lil small but still kewl so don't diss it.
H

Posted Tuesday, October 7, 2003
Even with broken bones and stolen boards I think the park rocks but what up with all the kevs!!!
pod

Posted Wednesday, October 1, 2003
Solihull skatepark is one of the worst examples of wasted time, money and effort I have ever seen. It is beyond pathetic. Where was the council/skater communication? You've ruined it for yourselves.
Mark

Posted Monday, September 29, 2003
WHY DO PARENTS/GRANDPARENTS LET THEIR 7 YEAR OLD KIDS ON THE RAMPS WITH MICRO SCOOTERS. I have seen many collisions because of little tiny kids on the ramps running around and they don't even skate, they just stand there. And if someone collides with a kid or has a stress at them. The parents have a go at you. GRRRRRRRR THEY P!** Me off so bad
Ollie

Posted Monday, September 29, 2003
The skate park will do for a bit but for gods sake MAKE IT BIGGER. There's too much wasted grass area that could be full of amazing skate park with enough space for the large amounts of people flooding the skate park every day.
Oll