Skateboard England, the body also responsible for the sport in Wales, has thrown its weight behind the bid to save Welshpool Skate Park.
The governing body said that it “fully supports the Welshpool Skateboard Park project” and said the sport is set for a boom period once it appears at the Olympic Games next summer for the first time.
Skateboard England said it is willing to listen to Welshpool Town Council and discuss possible options, and MyWelshpool has also put them in touch with the local skateboard community.
In a message of support delivered through MyWelshpool, a spokesperson said: “The (Save Welshpool Skate Park) team have shown full commitment to working with multiple community groups to prove the need for this type of facility in the town.
“Skateboarding is a growing sport, with in excess of 534,000 active participants in England alone, and across the UK as a whole there are approximately 750,000.
“It is also a sport with a strong and growing record in attracting new people into physical activity and, in particular, working effectively with young people and under-represented groups.
“Skateboarding is very accessible and gives a fantastic opportunity to engage with hard to reach young people who are “turned off” by traditional sport and physical activity.
“The type of youngsters who take up skateboarding tend not to engage with football, cricket, golf, running, cycling, etc. and are currently missing out on the various initiatives being delivered across outcomes by other providers.
“Skateboarding will be included in the Olympic Games in 2020 for the first time which will bring significant profile to and interest in the sport which in turn will see an increase in participation.”
A petition to save the park has amassed a whopping 1,100 signatures with the local community recognising the importance of having this vital facility for the town’s youth.
The Town Council made the understandable decision to close the park following structural problems identified in a report, but campaigners say the decision was too hasty and that any identified issues could be fixed or replaced.