Following an unsuccessful attempt to put the skatepark out to tender in 2005/06, Portsmouth City Council proposed reducing the opening of the park to the summer months only. This was widely seen by the users and others as a step towards closure and provoked a vociferous campaign of objection. In response, the Leader of the Council threw out a challenge to the park’s supporters to come up with a new body to take over the park operation.

A number of individuals came together, registered as a not for profit company and subsequently as a charity and negotiated the transfer of the park on 1st April 2011.

The Southsea Skatepark Company (working name Southsea Skatepark Trust), has a 60 year lease on the park at a peppercorn rent. In the first five years of operation the Trust received year-on-year reducing revenue funding from the Council. This funding ceased on 31st March 2016, since when the Trust has been wholly self-funding.

As an additional income stream, the Trust opened its own onsite shop in 2014, selling scooters, skates, helmets and spares, as well as a range of own branded goods.

The Trust also owns a catering unit within the park, which is rented to an independent operator and yields a rental to the Trust as well as providing a service to users, parents and spectators.

The Skatepark is open all year round and caters for beginners to professionals, with some 90% of users being under 16.

As a charitable organisation for over a decade, we have nurtured the talents of numerous young athletes who have gone on to achieve great success in their respective sports. One notable example is Declan Brooks, a local BMX rider who went on to become an Olympic bronze medalist in BMX Freestyle in Tokyo, a testament to the park’s role in fostering talent and providing a platform for young athletes to excel. Many other athletes have used the park as a stepping stone to success, whether through competitions, community events, or simply honing their skills.

The park has always been more than just a space for skating—it’s a vital community asset. We are proud to be led by a team of volunteers who are deeply committed to both the legacy of the park and its future. Our collective mission is to continue providing a safe, inclusive space for future generations, while also ensuring that our park is contributing positively to both the environment and the community.