Three members of Swansea’s skateboarding community have welcomed the city’s growing investment in wheel sports, saying it will help meet demand, encourage new riders, and raise Swansea’s profile as a destination for skateboarding and BMX.
Kate Leonard, co-founder of Exist Skatepark, coach Jon Lawton, and Bishopston-based skateboarder Will Muxworthy say the improvements—led by Swansea Council in partnership with design specialists Curve Studio—are long overdue and will help level the playing field with other parts of the UK.
The council is investing £2.8 million in a network of upgraded and new facilities across the city, with the aim of ensuring that no resident is more than two miles from a high-quality skate or BMX site. Work is already complete at Coed Bach in Pontarddulais and Melin Mynach in Gorseinon, with a street plaza-style facility at Victoria Park due to begin construction in August.
“We’re really excited about the council investment,” said Kate Leonard. “It will grow Swansea’s skateboarding community and give fans of wheel sports more outlets to burn off energy. Exist will complement the neighbourhood improvements—we don’t see it as competition.”
(Image: Swansea Council)
Designed by skateboarders, for skateboarders
The council has commissioned Curve Studio to lead design and consultation, with input from local riders shaping the character of each site. Improvements are also planned for Mynydd Newydd in Penlan, the Phoenix Centre in Townhill, and future sites in Ynystawe, Gowerton, Bishopston, and Blaenymaes.
“Curve Studio know their stuff,” said Jon Lawton, 20. “These facilities have been designed by skateboarders and influenced by skateboarders. The variety across sites will give people a reason to visit all of them.”
Lawton, who has been skating for eight years, said the investment will help the sport grow and attract visitors from outside the city. He praised the council for listening to feedback and acting on community input.
“When I was younger, I spent two entire summers at Victoria Park. It’s great to see the amazing plans for that location now.”
(Image: Swansea Council / Curve Studio)
A long-awaited revival
For Will Muxworthy, 25, the investment marks a turning point after decades of underinvestment.
“There’s been a strong surf and skateboarding scene in Swansea for years, but the facilities haven’t matched that energy since the late 1980s,” he said. “In the past, we had to travel to Bristol or further afield. That’s about to change.”
Muxworthy said the new facilities at Coed Bach and Melin Mynach are already making a difference, and the plans for Victoria Park are especially meaningful to local riders.
“There’s so much potential here. This investment gives Swansea the chance to be at the forefront of skateboarding and other wheel sports.”
(Image: Swansea Council)
More than just skateboarding
The wider wheel sports masterplan includes a new pump track for junior BMXers at Melin Mynach, a refurbishment of the existing track at Clyne Valley, and consultation on cycling and BMX facilities in Blaenymaes and Gowerton. Workshops have already taken place in Ynystawe and Gowerton, with more planned as the programme expands.
Council leader Rob Stewart recently confirmed that the skate park programme will be boosted to £2.9 million by 2027, as part of a wider £10 million investment in outdoor community facilities across Swansea.
“Residents told us they wanted to never be far from good quality skate parks,” said Stewart. “So we are delivering a multi-layered network of facilities that create a stage for inspirational riding and make it easy for anyone to take up wheeled sports in their community.”
