'End of an era' as Nottingham skatepark forced to close by river bridge project

A popular Nottingham skatepark which attracted "tens of thousands" of skaters is searching for a new home after it was forced to close to make way for a new footbridge. The pedestrian and cycle bridge will link Trent Basin, which sits off Daleside Road in the city, to the south bank of the river close to the Hook nature reserve in Lady Bay.

It will become the first new crossing built over the river in the city in more than 60 years. However, Flo Skatepark, in Poulton Drive, will be demolished as part of Nottingham City Council's plans for the new bridge.

Members of staff at the park, which closed in December having been running for more than 10 years, described it as the "end of an era" but said plans were underway to find a new temporary space in the city by September. The centre, which boasted dozens of ramps inside its 40,000sqft indoor space, is responsible for producing top skateboarding talent.

"Flo Skatepark has been a cornerstone of Nottingham’s skateboarding scene, nurturing generations of skaters and fostering a sense of camaraderie through its events, music sessions, and teaching programs," Flo said in a statement. "The last few weeks were amazing with so much love for what FLO is... its community and culture rather than just a building.

"The Flo team is committed to ensuring the city’s skateboarding scene remains vibrant. We will aim that the new facility will have all the features of Flo, a new street area, a bowl and a move indoors for the vert ramp, aiming to serve as a new hub for skaters and the wider community."

Options for a permanent home are also being explored, with discussions underway for two potential long-term sites, Flo said. "The closure of Flo marks the end of an era for Nottingham’s skateboarding scene, but its legacy will live on."

A spokesperson for Nottingham City Council said: "Now that the new walking and cycling bridge is moving into a new phase with enabling works beginning this spring, we are also assisting Flo with clearing the site at Trent Basin, which has been their temporary base. We appreciate the value that Flo bring to our city and ask anyone who can help with their search for a new base to get in touch with them."

Money for the bridge will come from the Department for Transport (DfT) Transforming Cities Fund. It is expected to cost in the region of at least £12m, having increased from £9m due to inflation since the project planning began.

Work had been due to start on the project last summer. The 87-metre bridge, which was increased in width to four metres following a public consultation, is expected to open at the end of 2025.