This weekend what might be the coolest and most versatile skate park Brisbane City has ever seen opens to the public CONCRETE CARNIVAL is the event showcasing the space and the inbuilt stage at the Redland Youth Plaza. With rock and hip hop acts Another Day Down, The Optimen and The Gifthorse taking the stage alongside demos by Kwala’s best skate team and Loosekid’s best BMX riders, you can rightly expect a day of all ages fun in the sun. INFORMER talks to park planner JIM GLEESON and his partner in crime, skate coordinator SCOTT SHEARER, about the special features of the park.

JIM GLEESON: The idea was to make skate and BMX spaces more inclusive to a wider range of young people. The inclusion of stage and social and hangout spaces are intended to encourage a wider range of young people to hang out, play and listen music and whatever they damn well please really – it’s an attempt to make a flexible space rather than just a preconceived space. The Redlands also has a great music heritage and the plaza is an ‘outdoor’ live music venue that will give lots of up and coming bands public performance opportunities. We are really trying to evolve what a skate park is, and this is a definite move away from the norm, so we hope people like it.

How do skaters feel about parks being used for social activities as well as skating? Does the social aspect help or hinder a skater’s development?

SCOTT SHEARER: Skateboarding is itself an individual and social activity.  The Plaza incorporates spaces to hang out and socialise for active and non-active users of the facility. Speaking from my own personal perspective overall I don’t think skaters mind skate facilities being used for other social activities as long as the skaters are involved to some degree in the process and that the activities don’t take over the skate-able space. In fact skate, BMX, music and other youth related subcultures feed off each other; so other social activities programmed accordingly can add value to space. Specific activities such as skateboard competitions, workshops and professional demonstrations definitely push skaters’ skill level as they get to meet and compete against other skaters and witness first hand what is possible.

Is there space for corporate sponsorship of the park or will they remain corporation free zones on the whole? Why?

JG: We are mentoring a crew of young people (plaza advisory crew – PAC) that include music lovers and budding producers, skaters, BMXers, free runners, young women interested in art and music, local businesses and community groups who are learning how to produce an event, how to set up an association etc and are making all the decisions about the opening event – which is going to be rad. The PAC are really keen to also get corporates to hold events there to make sure there is heaps of activities at the space. We are really keen to get as many corporates hosting events at the plaza and already Billabong and Globe are keen to hold events there. Kwala and Loosekid are our major sponsors for the opening event jam and they have both been really supportive and are putting on heaps of free stuff at the launch.

SS: Corporate sponsorship is welcomes in terms of support and involvement in events and activities but not for built infrastructure. Without corporate sponsorship for events it would be difficult to access all the funding and support required to organise specific events. However, in saying this when organising Concrete Carnival we wanted to support and involve as much as possible local community organisations and businesses.

Is it difficult to make a site that suits both skaters and BMX riders? What are the similarities and difference in design needs for the two groups?

 JG: It's really challenging because each group skates/rides different transitions but the street elements can be used by both groups and the plaza is big enough to let both groups use various parts simultaneously

The runway seems like a great idea but I don’t remember seeing one at other parks. Is it new to Brisbane?  And can you tell the people what it is used for?

SS: Yes, the Runway is a reasonably new concept to Southeast Queensland.  Obviously the Runway is used for street style skateboarding and has been designed to allow skaters to either spend hours perfecting a particular trick on a specific obstacle or try to string as many tricks together in a line.

So what is the ‘Rage Cage’ that’s been mentioned in the park’s planning?

JG: The rage cage is a fenced basketball court for playing extreme basketball

The three-phase power is a stroke of genius for a built in stage. Whose idea was it? And can you explain why it’s such a revelation to people who might not understand its importance?

 JG: The power was young peoples idea and its intended to make the space much easier to activate with music and events – just need to get a PA to plug in and off you go and we are hoping a lot of young people use the space for performance

The sight of an inbuilt stage will be new to many people. How do you think it will change the way skate parks are viewed?

SS: The stage will definitely open the Plaza up to whole new user groups. This may change the negative stigma and perceptions attached to skaters. With the evolution in skate park planning, design and activation skate parks may possibly be viewed as a positive space as opposed to a negative drug den.

Skate or die. Discuss?

SS: Skateboarding is not just a pastime or hobby kids do, but a lifestyle, art form and culture.

CONCRETE CARNIVAL: Sunday December 9, Redland Youth Plaza, Old Cleveland Road, Capalaba. Featuring Another Day Down, The Optimen, The Gifthorse, skate & BMX demos, skate competitions and more. FREE ENTRY/ ALL AGES (www.myspace.com/theconcretecarnival)

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