By Tom Lakelin
In 2001, Manchester City Council implemented a ban on skateboarding in public city centre spaces, arguing that it constituted anti-social behaviour that discouraged tourism.
Now, opponents have set up Projekts MCR skatepark beneath the Mancunian Way flyover as a direct response to the ban, aiming to provide a sustainable hub for the community and a hotbed for local young people to practice their craft in a safe environment.
“It’s crazy what we’ve done with the place really. It was just a junkies’ paradise before we came in and bought the land and, thanks to our funding, developed it into what it is today,” said founder John Haines, who won the initial contract to set up a skateboarding hub for all.
“Although the funding that came from the National Lottery Awards was huge for us, it’s not the only funding we received. We [also] received money from Sports England, Veolia Environmental Trust, the Change Foundation, GMCVO.”
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