EFFORTS to create a skate park in Oxford began 25 years ago.

There was the a 12-year campaign by the Oxford Wheels Project to provide better facilities than the wooden ramps at Meadow Lane, in East Oxford.

Now the vision has become a reality with the official opening of the £380,000 Oxford Wheels skate park at the site on Saturday.

Project founder Mon Barbour, who co-owns the SS20 Skateboard Store, in Cowley Road, said: “We have never had something we would class as a permanent skate park.

“This is the best part of 25 years’ worth of effort – not just on my part but Jack Richens’ and countless others.

“It has been quite emotional, it’s just so good to see it there.

“It’s a great time for young people in Oxford, it will really make a difference. You can see youngsters are really happy about it.”

The 44-year-old from Jericho added: “This is truly one of the best youth facilities that Oxford has seen for a very long time.”

Project chairman Jack Richens said: “After such a long struggle, it’s an amazing feeling to see the park finally completed.”

He added: “The Oxford Wheels Park is an incredible new facility.

“The design is unlike any other skate park and it can provide for lots more people than the old wooden ramps.”

The concrete park, which took five months to complete, accommodates a wide range of abilities and styles of skating and BMX bike riding.

Mr Richens said: “In the past, all our resources were concentrated on maintaining the old ramps and campaigning for the park. Now it’s finally here we can focus on promoting skating and BMX in the community. We’re committed to bringing newcomers to skating and BMX and will focus on providing coaching sessions for kids and promoting females in skateboarding.”

The money were raised by Oxford Wheels Project volunteers, who received grants and sponsorship from Oxford City Council, Sport England, National Lottery, Oxfordshire County Council, SS20 Skateboard Store, landfill tax grants body Wren, and the BMW Mini plant in Cowley.

Frank Bachmann, managing director of car factory, said: “Mini is all about fun and excitement, so when we heard about the park, it seemed to be the perfect match. We hope it proves popular with the community and our employees.”

Jono Wyborn, who works in the plant’s paintshop, is a board member of Oxford Wheels Project.

The 23-year-old said: “Oxford has a rich skateboarding and BMXing history, with some of the world’s most respected riders hailing from here. Now, with the new facility, we have the perfect breeding ground for the next generation.”

Mark Lygo, Oxford City Council’s executive member for parks and sport, said: “This is an excellent example of the council working closely with a community group and supporting them to help achieve shared objectives. The skate park will be a real asset for the people of Oxford.”

Jason Cloete, 20, from Wantage said: “It’s quality, and everyone involved in bringing it to life has done a fantastic job. We couldn’t have asked for a better skatepark.

“I used to go to Cutteslowe before but never really had a proper home to practise. This is amazing, it has brought everyone together.”

St Gregory the Great School pupil Evan Hodgkiss, 16, said: “It’s really exciting to have somewhere like this to come down every day. I’ll be down here as much as I can.”

Among those instructing young riders was charity worker Sam Bruce, 24, who said: “We’re teaching them how to use the ramps and the bowl and getting their confidence up, getting them to try out all the different genres within skateboarding and hope that they will come to the park again and again.”

The skate park is open seven days a week from 9am to 9pm, but the last two hours each day are for OWP members only.

Membership costs £10 a year. For more details, see owp.org.uk