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22 Apr 2025

Creative Concrete in the Highlands: How Concrete Skateparks Helped Transform Inverness

Concrete Skatepark Design & Build LTD
Creative Concrete in the Highlands: How Concrete Skateparks Helped Transform Inverness

In the heart of the Scottish Highlands, a bold vision took shape — and rolled, carved, and soared into reality.

Back in 2014, Concreate Skateparks took on one of their most adventurous builds to date: the creation of Inverness Skatepark. But this wasn’t just a skatepark. It was a statement. A project that wove together sport, community, and public realm design into something truly special.

Working closely with the client and a passionate, detail-focused user group, Concreate delivered a multi-functional public space with broad appeal — combining a 1,350m² skatepark with extensive landscaping, stage areas, BBQ zones, and social gathering points. All within a dedicated budget of £270,000 for the skatepark element.

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Designing with (and for) the Community

From the very beginning, the local skateboarding community played a key role in shaping the outcome. Their input didn’t just guide the design — it inspired it. From beginner-friendly 350m² low-level features to a 400m² street section with flowing lines and transitions, every inch of the park reflects real user needs.

Highlights include:

  • A professional-grade 250m² bike jump course, described as a literal rollercoaster of a ride

  • A 350m² multi-depth concrete bowl designed to challenge and excite

  • The now-iconic "Thistle feature", a creative twist on a community request for an angled manual pad

  • Clever use of on-site materials and topography to maximise value and sustainability

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Flexible, Innovative, and Built to Last

When the client and community decided midway through construction that the bowl needed to be even bigger — Concreate adapted on the fly, expanding the feature without compromising time, budget, or build quality.

That flexibility and problem-solving mindset is the hallmark of Concreate’s approach. With years of project management expertise in both skatepark design and civil engineering, the team knows how to deliver high-performance environments that serve both public need and creative ambition.

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A Destination in its Own Right

Today, Inverness Skatepark is more than a local facility — it’s a national destination. Skaters and riders travel from across the UK to experience its diversity, creativity, and challenge. And thanks to a strong collaborative process and thoughtful design, it continues to serve as a beloved hub for the local community.

 

Projects like Inverness Skatepark demonstrate the powerful role that active spaces play in our public environments — blending recreation, community, and placemaking in exciting new ways.

Visit Concreate Skateparks at Public Spaces Expo, 7–8 October 2025 at ExCeL London, and see how they continue to shape inclusive, high-impact spaces across the UK and beyond.

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