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OWP Proposal

This proposal offers the city the oppotunity to benefit from the 10 years of experience the OWP has gained from running the Meadow Lane Ramps.

By situating the facility in the OX4 area the propososed park would benefit from a the managment of Oxford Wheels Project volunteers. As with Meadow Lane volunteers would assume an acitve role in the facilities management helping ensure the success of the skate park for skaters, residents and council alike.

We are the only organisation in the country who not only offer to fund the construction of a park but to actively manage and maintain it.

The Facility

Overview
The proposed wheeled sports facility shall be free to use and open to all.It will consist of different terrain and obstacles catering for Skateboarding, BMXing, Rollerblading and other non motorised forms wheels based sports. This will be a public facility.

Infrastructure

Security
The proposed facility shall be fenced and lockable. The fencing must be robust and of a suitable height to deter out of hours entry to the park. There will be a minimum of 2 gated points of entrance/exit to offer options of retreat from the fenced facility should it be required.

Opening Hours
The proposed opening hours are as follows
Weekdays 10am til Dusk
Weekends 9am til Dusk
Or 9 pm at latest

The closing times shall complement that of other locked parks in the city. The weekday opening time of 10 am is to ensure that the park is not open before school hours and its supervision at this time is a deterrent to any potential truants.Prolonged rain, snow and ice render a concrete park unridable and unsafe to use. The park will remain closed in unfavourable weather conditions.
Adequate third party liability insurance cover shall be the responsibility of Oxford City Council.

Management

The OWP can and will if necessary assume an active role in the facilities management.
The proposed park will be a City Council facility and shall be afforded the maintenance and supervision of any other locked and maintained park.

The Executive Officers of the Oxford Wheels Project shall form an elected sub-committee committed to the parks daily management. This would comprise a number of volunteer key holders elected by a majority vote of the charities Executive Committee who shall fulfil the duties of a staffed rota.
Elected Key holders duties shall include
The unlocking and locking of the park at times outlined in this document.
Act as liaison with residents, users, council and Police ensuring that at least twice a day there is a point of contact on site.
Monitoring and recording of the parks usage and assessment of any wear or damage to the facility.

This has been the successful method employed at Meadow Lane for over 5 years.

Maintenance

The proposed concrete facility will require minimal maintenance.
Ongoing costs incurred from upkeep, cleaning and minor repairs to riding surfaces where appropriate will be covered through grant making applications and fundraising efforts.


Amenities.
The use of the pavilion facilities would be welcomed. Requirements for usage would extend initially to onsite storage of tools, brooms, cleaning equipment and documents.
Issues of access require further discussion.

Immediate Commitments

- The design of a wheeled sports facility will cater for a range of styles and abilities which will attract, challenge and inspire users for years to come
- To apply to grant making organisations for adequate capital funding for the facility.
- To ensure the park complies with acceptable sound levels according to BS4142 and World Health Organisation guidelines for community noise - The aesthetic impact of the park is considered appropriate. Adequate security measures are incorporated in the parks design and construction.

Short Term Commitments (3 Years)

- Assume an active role in parks management
-Work along side the City Council to ensure opening times and management strategies are adhered to
- Monitor and record the facilities quality and usage
- Continued liaison with residents and park users.
- Collaborate with the council on long term methods of facility management, i.e. Park Wardens, Staff Funding.

Long Term Commitments

The proposed facility shall where practicable be afforded by Oxford City Council the ongoing management extended to other council run parks and recreation facilities in the city.
As has been seen at Meadow Lane Skatepark users of the facility are keen to undertake active roles in the parks management which has proved very successful. The long term commitment to the parks management shall be the responsibility of the City Council and continue to involve OWP and other users of the proposed facility.

The Oxford Wheels Project shall continue to exist as a registered charity representing wheeled sports enthusiasts and shall act as point of contact to the City Council. OWP is committed to the encouragement of newcomers to wheeled sports, the progression of skating and BMX and provision of adequate wheeled sports facilities for Oxford.