Local Lads Defy Odds to Open Skate Park in Ayrshire

Two childhood friends from Ayrshire realised their dream of opening an indoor skate park in Ayr this month.

David Hunter and Craig Maxwell opened Shred Skate Park in Ayr on Saturday and it’s the only indoor facility for the sport in the area.

The 10,000 sq. feet park has been at capacity since it opened on July 4th.

David and Craig both are lovers of the sport and regularly got together with fellow BMX and skate friends to travel to various skate parks around Scotland.

Three years ago they approached their families and told them their dream was to open a skate park here in Ayrshire so everyone in the area had somewhere to enjoy the sport and meet new friends.

They began designing the park and looking for a facility that could house their designs but finding premises big enough and affordable was difficult.

Many people told them it wasn’t a good idea.

However, they weren’t put off and found a warehouse on Boundary Road, Ayr.

The warehouse had been empty for years and was infested with pigeons.

The boys were undeterred by the amount of work needed and were granted planning permission so work could begin.

The Skate Park opened on Saturday and was at capacity within an hour with people queuing down the street.

Riders of all ages (adults too) and skill levels are welcome and the pair hope to start offering lessons and birthday parties in the future.

Co-Director Craig Maxwell said: "Me and David have been involved in the sport for many years, we grew up in Ayr and there's been a complete lack of facilities in the area. We had to travel all over the country and we felt it was long overdue to get a skate park here."

"It's been three years in the making from the initial idea to the actual opening day. We had to go through the planning, design and build of the park and the lease of the building was quite a complex process.

"We put the whole thing together ourselves, we had a small grant of about £1,000 from the ambition fund but apart from that we've not looked for anything else.

"We took on the building in a state of disrepair, it wasn't wind or water tight and it had a pigeon infestation. There was a lot of clearing out to do and the road was basically a jungle. We stripped it bear and started from scratch and most of the work was done by ourselves and any family members we could get involved."