19 January 2006
NEWS RELEASE
BIGGER, BETTER SOMERSET SKATE PARK OPENS IN ORCHARD
On Saturday, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community
Development, Youth and Sports and Chairman of the National Youth Council,
will launch the newly built Somerset Skate Park. The new Park is the best
equipped Skate Park in Singapore with bigger and better ramps of international
quality. It marks the first phase completion of *scape – the new community
space for youth in the heart of Orchard.
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This facility is constructed as a response to the call to give
recognition to extreme sports and build better extreme sports facilities in
Singapore. This feedback was given by young extreme sports enthusiasts during
the massive consultation exercise undertaken by the Ministry of Community
Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and the National Youth Council
(NYC) in late 2004.
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The Somerset Skate Park features a larger effective skating court, a
better layout, ramps and skating structures that meet international standards, as
well as features for street-skating (see Annex A for key features and highlights
of the Skate Park). With five years of experience and the support of the extreme
sports community, this new Skate Park is much improved from the first open
public skate park built five years ago by NYC in Orchard in both scale and
sophistication.
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The Park also incorporates the first-ever permanent graffiti walls – a
specially constructed space for youth to legitimately express their creativity
through graffiti art.
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Your reporter and photographer/camera crew are cordially invited to
cover the launch of the Somerset Skate Park. Details are:
Date
:
Saturday, 21 January 2006
Time
:
9.30 am
Venue
:
Somerset Skate Park
(Please refer to map attached in Annex A)
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The launch of the Skate Park will showcase Dr Vivian Balakrishnan
in a BMX performance together with the Bronze medal winners of the inaugural
Asian Indoor Games held in Bangkok in November last year.
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Organised by Youthop!a, a brainchild of the (NYC), and presented
by Singtel, the launch also includes highlights like:
ƒ
Launch of the Graffiti “Wall of Expression”, a self governed
wall by artists for artists;
ƒ
A youth initiated and organised extreme sports competition,
sponsored by Oakley. The competition features
skateboarding, in-line skating and BMX Biking, where
finalists stand a chance to qualify for ESPN Asian X’Games
2006;
ƒ
Guest performances by Singapore’s Asian Indoor Games
2005 athletes; and
ƒ
Exhibition on youth proposals for *scape – the new youth
community space in the heart of Orchard.
(Please refer to Annex B for the programme)
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Latest updates on the development of *scape will also be given
during Minister’s tour of the exhibition on *scape proposals at the National
Youth Centre.
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We would appreciate it if you could contact Ms Christina Ching,
Manager, Corporate Communications, at Tel: 6839 9122 or Email:
[email protected], by Friday 20 January 2006, 12.00 pm to confirm
your attendance at the event.
_____________________________
This media release is transmitted via telebox by the Corporate Communications
Section of the National Youth Council. The National Youth Council is a
Division of the People’s Association. For further information, please contact:
Media Liaison Officer
Christina Ching (Ms)
Manager (Corporate Communications)
National Youth Council
Tel: 6839 9122
Hp: 9876 9237
Fax: 6836 2473
Email: [email protected]
Project Officer
Imelda Tan (Miss)
Executive Officer, Youthop!a
Tel: 6839 9159
Hp: 9029 8864
Fax: 6836 2471
Email: [email protected]
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ANNEX A
FACT SHEET
ON
NEW SOMERSET SKATE PARK
BACKGROUND
The construction of the new improved skate park is part of the National Youth
Council’s (NYC) and the Ministry of Community Development, Youth &
Sports’ (MCYS) response to the call to give recognition to extreme sports and
for better extreme sports facilities in Singapore by young extreme sports
enthusiasts during the massive youth consultation exercise undertaken by MCYS
and NYC in late 2004.
CONSULTATION EXERCISE
More than 30 youths aged between 13 to 35 years old from all walks of life were
consulted for the development.
Skateboarding, In-Line Skating and BMX professionals and athletes were
consulted throughout the entire process.
The following agencies were also consulted:
National Parks, Singapore Sports Council, Ministry of Community Development
Youth & Sports and Outward Bound Singapore.
SPECIFICATIONS
-
Total park area: 3,000 sqm
(about twice the useable space of the former Skate Park)
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KEY FEATURES
Standards
−
Equipment meets international standards & can be easily reconfigured to
enhance skating experience. Also allows for flexible use of Park Grounds.
−
Street Skating elements
−
Better concrete surface for riding
−
User friendly for both Beginner and Advanced skaters
−
Park can be used for International level competitions
RAMPS / EQUIPMENT INSTALLED
-
1 Quarter Pipe: 4’ high x 16’ wide
-
1 Quarter Pipe: 5’ high x 12’ wide
-
1 Quarter Pipe: 6’ high x 20’ wide
-
Mini Ramp: 5’ high x 16’ wide
-
Flat Bank: 5’ high x 12’ wide
-
Fun Box: 2’ high with flat bank, steps and angled ledges
-
2 Grind Boxes: 2’ high
-
Grind Ledges: 2’ high
-
1 Flat Grind Rails
-
1 Curved Grind Rails
-
Round Stair Handrails: 0.75m (h)
-
Flat Stair Handrails: 0.75m (h)
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LOCATION MAP
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ANNEX B
LAUNCH OF NEW SOMERSET SKATE PARK
FEATURING SOUL2SOLE II
SATURDAY, 21 JANUARY 2006
PROGRAMME
09:30
Media registration & briefing
10:00
Arrival of Guest-of-Honour
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan
Minister for Community Development, Youth & Sports and
Chairman of the National Youth Council
10:15
Launch of Graffiti “Wall of Expression” by Guest-of-Honour
10:20
Speech by Guest-of-Honour
10:25
Presentation of Tokens of Appreciation to Partners &
Sponsors
10:35
Demo Performance by AIG Athletes
10:45
Reception & Tour of Exhibition on *scape by Guest-ofHonour
10:45 – 16:30
Soul2Sole II Competition Segment
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