Cardiff Barrage Skate Plaza

I hadn’t walked to the barrage for a while so when I did a few weeks ago and I heard music pumping out and saw a crowd gathering I thought ‘What the hell is going on?’.
I pushed through the crowd and got a rush of childish excitement when I saw Cardiff Bay’s very own skate park. It isn’t one of those silly little temporary make shoft ones. It is a full size, properly installed permanent fixture.
There was a skate off taking place between some rather cool, toned and by this point sweaty guys. The atmosphere was rocking.
When the skate off finished everybody with a skate board (young and VERY old) gave it ago. I loved it… It was really uplifting to see kids being kids again.
The talent the kids have is amazing. I hope the council spend some money advertising it, as it would be a shame for some wannabe skaters out there to miss out.
There is no fee to use the skate park and I for one think it is great. It gives kids something to do and keeps them out of trouble.

Ok I’m going to sound a bit like an old fogey here.
I walked down to the barrage about a month ago (something i love to do) and there wasn’t any suggestion of a skate park. All of a sudden scroll on a month and not only is there is a fully built skater park but there is a competition going on there with loads of people watching.
Here’s the old man bit — part of me thought — will this park and all its followers i.e. baggy pant wearing graffiti artists spoil this lovely tranquil part of the bay that I so often stroll through? Then part of me said –about time this part of the bay was utilized more. So as yet I’m in two minds the large part of which tell me its a good thing.

It’s about time!
Cardiff now has its very own skate park, and it’s not in the back of a housing development or a run-​down woodland. It’s got a spot on some prime real estate — the Cardiff Bay barrage.
Only officially opened last week, the skate park showcases street features from Barcelona, San Francisco, and Bejing, and is now a place that local skaters can comfortably call home.
Um, yeah, I wish I had the grace and physical strength necessary to steer a skateboard 15 feet without falling off, so I just played the part of aging hipster on the side lines.
The level of skill on show astounds me, and the added bonus of seeing a cluster of female skaters always stokes the smoldering embers of my feminist heart.
Apparently this £150,000 project was the result of petitions, protests, and even a Facebook campaign (which is standard now, I guess).
It’s nice to know that when kids holler, the Council listen.
I must say, it kinda renews my faith in local government.