Clissold skatepark reopens as riders repair damage

Clissold Park skatepark is back to its former glory as users repair damage. Photograph: Clissold Park skatepark

Clissold Park skatepark – forced to close after repeated attacks of vandalism – has now been restored thanks to the efforts of local skaters and BMX riders.

An informal cleaning crew of regular skatepark users went down to the site to mend the damage caused by plastic and metal bins that had been set on fire in the skate pit last Sunday.

The skaters and BMX bikers removed the residue the fires had left on the cement using paint scrapers and other tools. They also carefully removed the broken glass bottles that were covering the surface.

Callum Carabin, 19, from Stoke Newington, a user of the skatepark, said: “At first it was looking devastated, and we thought it would be much worse. The burnt plastic melted through the concrete and made the surface fracture, but thanks to the BMX bikers’ hard work it’s all fine now.

“If the council were left to do the work, they would take forever. A little burnt plastic would never stop us anyway.”

Luke Alexander, 16, another skatepark “addict”, said: “I was there during the cleaning process and it only took us two or three hours to do all the work. We couldn’t just leave it as it was, with all the rubbish. We’re really happy that we can skate again now.”