Hove Beach Park celebrated by skateboarders and BMX riders

Some £13.7 million has been spent on making plans for the new Hove Beach Park a reality - complete with a skatepark, roller rink and BMX pump track - using money from housing projects and levelling up funds.

The seafront park has proved a hit with youngsters and adults alike, who travel from across the city to try out the new facilities which first opened on September 13.

Youths pulling stunts on the new BMX pump track (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

"It's amazing to see the buzz this has created," said skateboarder Liam Teague, who was part of a group consulted on the new skatepark's design.

"There were hundreds and hundreds of people all out enjoying themselves in the first weekend, all different ages.

"I met a lot of people I haven't seen in a long time, it's bringing everyone together - it's got to be one of the better skateparks in this part of the country."

Liam Teague had campaigned for a new skatepark for years (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

The new skatepark, unlike most in the area, focuses less on deep bowls but instead smaller elements which replicate obstacles skaters might find in the street, like steps, rails and low walls.

Liam, 35, added: "I'm getting a bit old for it these days, but there is a lot of new stuff you've got to learn to jump on and off - it's good to see the young kids doing what my legs are too knackered to do these days."

He was part of an initial campaign to refurbish the previous Hove Lagoon skatepark, which was growing outdated after 17 years of use, when proposals for the Kingsway to the Sea project were drafted.

The old skatepark in Hove Lagoon is now an empty space - soon to be used by fairground rides (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Along with a group of other skaters, he worked with design firm Maverick and the council to come up with a design within the space - taking into account constraints such as an underground waterpipe which dictated the shape of the skatepark.

Councillor Julie Cattell is among those heading up the project with the scheme's next phases set to open soon, ahead of a grand opening next spring.

This includes tennis courts, a sand sports area and café building - all forming what Julie has called a "multi-generational" space.

Cllr Cattell is delighted to see so many people using the skatepark (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

She said: "I don't think I have ever seen a council project that has been so praised. We have had emails and messages from people saying thank you so much, and this is wonderful.

"People don't really like change, but when change happens people then go 'oh, that's all right'.

"I don't think we anticipated how well this space would be received from older and younger people. I think it is one of the most positive things we have done in a long time."

Read more: Long-awaited seafront park finally opens following setbacks

The project started under the previous administration, with Cllr Cattell nodding to the late councillor Gary Peltzer Dunn, who died after more than 50 years of service in 2022.

"It is sad that he is no longer with us to see it," she said.

Skateboarders are making the most of the new space (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

All eyes are on the next phases to open, with a few snags to fix along the way. The Argus understands the tennis courts need to be resurfaced.

Cllr Cattell added: "By the time we start to get the King Alfred off the ground, which won't be long, we will have one long flowing sports area along the seafront.

"It is another central park like Valley Gardens - which is so much nicer now."

Poppy Webster on her skates (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

While much of the focus is on the new skatepark and pump track, roller skaters are enjoying their own space on the seafront to build up their speed in a circuit - a change from their usual spot on the promenade near Hove Lawns.

"I moved to Brighton five days ago and it was an absolute blessing to hear this had opened," said keen roller skater Poppy Webster, who had come to the city from Vietnam to study at the University of Brighton.

She said: "I have already met loads of friends down here as well. One of the reasons I moved down here was because I knew there was a nice skate community.

"This is one of the nicest outside spaces I have been to, so I'll be down here every day... weather permitting."