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To achieve more effective use of venue resources, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (June 27) that starting from July 28 four of its venues will be open for co-use by players of extreme sports, namely freestyle BMX, skateboarding and aggressive inline skating.
The four venues are the cycling grounds at Po Kong Village Road Park in Wong Tai Sin District and On Fuk Street Playground in the North District, and the skateboard grounds at On Lok Mun Street Playground in North District and Hong Kong Velodrome Park in Sai Kung District. Together with the skateboard ground at Lai Chi Kok Park in Sham Shui Po District which has been used for the above-mentioned three extreme sports since its commissioning, all these five venues will be renamed as "skateparks".
A spokesman for the LCSD said that with the increasing popularity of extreme sports in Hong Kong, public demand for facilities for freestyle BMX, skateboarding and aggressive inline skating activities is on the rise. The co-use arrangement would help consolidate resources to meet public needs.
"We have consulted relevant works departments and obtained confirmation from relevant national sports associations and sports organisations that the facilities in these venues are suitable for these three types of extreme sports," the spokesman said.
"Extreme sports" is a popular term for certain activities perceived as involving a high level of skill and challenge. For the sake of safety, all players should be at least eight years old. Adult supervision is recommended for players below the age of 12. To enhance their safety awareness, all skatepark users must thoroughly read the "Players' Guide" before admission to the venues. They must wear a safety helmet, which should have safety stripes and fit snuggly. Appropriate shoes are mandatory and people without such footwear will not be allowed entry.
In order to foster better public understanding of such activities and venue regulations, fun days to promote extreme sports will be co-organised by the LCSD and the relevant sports organisations, during which participants can learn about venue facilities, safety equipment and guidelines, skatepark etiquette as well as rules and regulations.
Enquiries about skateparks can be made to District Leisure Services Offices (DLSO) (Wong Tai Sin DLSO at 2328 9262; North District DLSO at 2679 2819; Sai Kung DLSO at 2878 8621 and Sham Shui Po DLSO at 2386 0945).
Ends/Friday, June 27, 2014
Issued at HKT 11:42
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