![JUMP UP: Albury skateboarders are disappointed the David Street skate park is not up to scratch with its facilities. Picture: ELENOR TEDENBORG JUMP UP: Albury skateboarders are disappointed the David Street skate park is not up to scratch with its facilities. Picture: ELENOR TEDENBORG](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/5AaW8Hup7jGaBbqh62UAcr/240b8af9-86db-4566-b418-d1d6d36abed2.jpg/r0_624_3291_4787_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Skateboarders have rallied to give a new lease of life to a major Albury skate park.
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Michael Panozzo, Heavy Weather Skateboarding owner started a petition for help in upgrading the David Street facilities to benefit the skating community.
Mr Panozzo said the surface was unsafe for users.
“It’s unsafe, unmaintained and has large cracks in the ground,” he said.
“We need to bring it into the community spotlight to help out.”
Mr Panozzo said it was necessary after changes to other parks.
“Wodonga’s had recent upgrades, as well as Myrtleford and Yackandandah,” he said.
Mr Panazzo said it was important skateboarders were involved in any changes .
“We want to talk about upgrading Albury with local community input,” he said.
“This is concentrating on what skateboarders want so we are jumping on this issue and making it ours.”
Mr Panozzo said the majority of skateboarders now travelled to Wodonga.
“Between 60 to 70 per cent of the skate community is NSW based and a lot of them are under 18,” he said.
“Until Wodonga was built, Albury was the only park in the area with lights and we were going down there every Friday night.”
Mr Panozzo said the process began before the petition went active.
“I met with Albury council about six months ago and the petition has been going for a month,” he said.
He said it was a matter of engaging people to modernise the park.
“I think it’s important the skating collective has some involvement in how it’s designed,” he said.
“I grew up next to Wodonga skate park but it’s not the same experience if you have to travel.”
Mr Panozzo said people continued to come onboard to support the campaign.
“We’ve got support from the skate community and skateboarding.com.au,” he said.
A City of Albury spokeswoman said council was aware a petition was circulating.
“We will await its lodgement with council before commenting any further,” she said.