Southfields Park Loughborough

Southfields Skatepark

Let's make it a leading public skatepark in the East Midlands.

We're on a mission to make this skatepark even better and accommodate more riders of different abilities. Sign the petition.

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Open lawns and mature trees in Southfields Park, Loughborough, with a path leading to the green gazebo and flats on the right.
Southfields Park, Loughborough. Photo: David Hallam-Jones, CC BY-SA 2.0
A large tiled-edge concrete skate bowl in a public park, with young skaters and scooter riders on the flat area beyond.
Concrete skate bowl. Photo: Andreas Schwarzkopf, CC BY-SA 4.0
A woman skateboards along a low ledge at an outdoor concrete skatepark on a sunny day, with a bridge in the distance.
Woman skateboarding. Photo: City of Detroit, Public domain
Opened
2010
Extended
2018
Our 2027 goal
Made amazing

01 The pitch

Local riders
explain the idea.

An aerial view of Southsea Skatepark, a large concrete park with snake runs, bowls and ramps set among trees.
Large UK concrete skatepark. Photo: Tim Sheerman-Chase, CC BY 2.0

02 The vision

Improve the skatepark
and add new sections.

We want to work with Charnwood Borough Council to improve the current skatepark and add new sections. The aim is to make Southfields a leading public skatepark in the East Midlands, with room for riders of every ability.

Current park, improved New sections
Sketch only. The size, shape and position would come from design sessions with local riders.

Ideas for new sections

A young child in a helmet stands with a scooter on top of a graffiti-painted box at a skatepark, seen from behind.
Young child at a skatepark. Photo: Clark Young clark1, CC0

Beginner area

Space to learn, away from faster riders.

A skateboarder rolls across a pale blue mini ramp under trees while other skaters wait on the deck.
Mini ramp. Photo: Ianjohnclarke, CC BY-SA 4.0

Mini ramp

A smaller ramp for learning and flowing.

A concrete street section at a public skatepark with a set of stairs, a handrail, ledges and a bank.
Street section. Photo: Neoclassicism Enthusiast, CC0

Street section

Ledges, rails and stairs to ride.

A skatepark lit by tall floodlights at night, with ramps and railings visible across the concrete surface.
Floodlit skatepark at night. Photo: Grx.rxd, Public domain

Floodlights

Riding after dark in autumn and winter.

Ideas only. The final design would be decided with local skaters, scooter riders and BMXers.

A smooth concrete skatepark in Victoria Park, London, with bowls, banks and a round sculpture under a clear sky.
Large UK concrete skatepark. Photo: Matt Brown, CC BY 2.0
A skateboarder grabs air above a blue mini ramp while a crowd of spectators sits and stands along the side watching.
Mini ramp with spectators. Photo: Ianjohnclarke, CC BY-SA 4.0
Brick entrance lodges and gateway to Southfields Park, Loughborough, framed by trees and shrubs on a sunny day.
Southfields Park, Loughborough. Photo: David Hallam-Jones, CC BY-SA 2.0
A BMX rider jumps off a ramp at a fenced park skatepark surrounded by autumn trees and flats.
BMX at a skatepark. Photo: Dr Neil Clifton, CC BY-SA 2.0
A green metal gazebo on a paved circle in Southfields Park, Loughborough, under a large bare tree on an overcast day.
Southfields Park, Loughborough. Photo: Jonathan Thacker, CC BY-SA 2.0

03 The current challenges

What the park
is missing today.

The skatepark has a bowl, a street section, banks, ledges and rails. It attracts riders from across the borough. These are the gaps.

A skatepark at night under lights and bunting, with a low grind rail in the foreground and skaters by painted ramps behind.
Lit skatepark at night. Photo: Marlon OB, CC BY-SA 3.0
01

No lights

The skatepark has no floodlights. From autumn to spring it gets dark before most people finish school or work. 198 people have already signed a petition asking for lights.

“Once autumn and winter come around, it gets dark so early that the skatepark is almost useless after school or work.”Spencer, Loughborough, on the floodlights petition
A boy in a yellow t-shirt and cap rides a scooter towards a concrete quarter pipe with benches above.
Scooter rider at a skatepark. Photo: Oto Zapletal, CC BY 4.0
02

No space for beginners

There is no separate area to learn in. New riders, younger children and experienced riders all share the same lines.

A skateboarder grabs air above a blue mini ramp while a crowd of spectators sits and stands along the side watching.
Mini ramp with spectators. Photo: Ianjohnclarke, CC BY-SA 4.0
03

No mini ramp

Local riders have asked publicly for a mini ramp at Southfields. The park doesn't have one.

04 Who it's for

Who uses
skateparks.

In England, more girls than boys skate or blade. In football, more boys than girls play.

A group of young women and girls sit and chat together on the concrete at a busy outdoor skatepark.
Community at a skatepark. Photo: City of Detroit, Public domain
556

children live in the two neighbourhoods right next to the park. They can walk there.

Office for National Statistics, 2022

6.0%

of children with a disability or long-term illness skate or blade, against 5.3% of other children.

Sport England, Active Lives 2024/25

A BMX rider jumps off a ramp at a fenced park skatepark surrounded by autumn trees and flats.
BMX at a skatepark. Photo: Dr Neil Clifton, CC BY-SA 2.0
A young child in a helmet stands with a scooter on top of a graffiti-painted box at a skatepark, seen from behind.
Young child at a skatepark. Photo: Clark Young clark1, CC0
A large tiled-edge concrete skate bowl in a public park, with young skaters and scooter riders on the flat area beyond.
Concrete skate bowl. Photo: Andreas Schwarzkopf, CC BY-SA 4.0

05 Constraints

What any plan
has to work with.

We know a good plan has to fit the park, the neighbours and the council's timetable.

06 Show your support

Show your support.

Every name shows the council how much support there is. Everyone who signs will be invited to help shape the design.

The petition We'd like Charnwood Borough Council to work with local riders to improve Southfields Park skatepark and add new sections, making it a leading public skatepark in the East Midlands.
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Free. We never ask for money here.

The campaign organiser stores your details securely. Your name and postcode go to the council as part of the petition. We only email you if you tick the box. We never share or sell your details.

Thank you for signing.

Please share the petition with someone who uses the skatepark.

An aerial view of Southsea Skatepark, a large concrete park with snake runs, bowls and ramps set among trees.
Large UK concrete skatepark. Photo: Tim Sheerman-Chase, CC BY 2.0

07 Comments and ideas

What supporters
are saying.

Comments appear here once they've been checked. Add the first one.

08 Share

Share the petition.

Send the link to friends, family and anyone who uses the skatepark.

Sign the petition