A PETITION to upgrade Ellenbrook skatepark from its current state is gaining traction with local skaters raising concerns around safety hazards in the park.

The petition, started by local resident Ethan Kickett, has attracted more than 170 supporters, with calls for a full upgrade or urgent repairs to the park.

Mr Kickett said feedback from local users pushed him to launch the petition calling for upgrades.

“Having visited other skateparks in Perth, I noticed the stark contrast in the condition of Ellenbrook skatepark compared to others,” he said.

During a visit to the skatepark by Echo News this week multiple cracks and uneven concrete were visible throughout the park, with sections appearing to have been roughly patched or filled.

In some areas, the surface had broken away entirely, leaving exposed gaps and loose material.

The two drink fountains around the park were broken, and had been sealed off for an unknown amount of time.

Within 20 minutes at the park, this reporter observed several falls, with young riders pointing to the damaged surface and slippery bowl as the cause.

Mr Kickett said the worst of the damage was in the park’s main bowl.

“The main issue is safety, particularly in the bowl. It’s damaged and near unrideable,” he said.

He said uneven surfaces and worn infrastructure were increasing the risk of injury.

“The coping is damaged, the surface is uneven and bumpy which makes it easier to fall and injure yourself.”

Zael Mehew, 13, who has been using the park for about six months, said little had been done to maintain or improve the facility.

“Nothing’s really been fixed,” he said.

“If somebody does graffiti over the bowl, it just gets painted over instead of cleaned… it leaves a horrible residue.”

Ari Brooks, 14, who has been visiting the park for more than a year, said the condition of the park had steadily declined.

“There’s a bunch of holes everywhere,” he said.

“There’s not really much to do because everything’s been worn down… the council refuses to fix anything and just uses cheaper methods.”

The boys said the build-up of paint in the bowl had made the surface slippery, increasing the risk of falls.

They pointed to Bayswater skatepark as an example of better maintenance, where graffiti is removed using specialised cleaners rather than painted over.

“It’s more expensive, but it doesn’t leave residue and keeps it clean,” Ari said.

Mr Kickett said he hoped the petition would lead to action from the City of Swan.

“At the very least I’d like to see fixes to current damages like fixing cracks, coping and the bowl surface,” he said.

The petition calls on the City of Swan to repair damaged surfaces and eliminate safety hazards, deliver a full redesign and modernisation of the skatepark and expand the size and capacity of the facility to reflect population growth.

The petitioners are also requesting the introduction of new features that cater to skateboarding, BMX, scooters, and emerging trends and improvement to the layout and flow to meet contemporary skatepark standards and ongoing maintenance to preserve the park long-term.

The Ellenbrook skatepark was constructed in approximately 2009. At that time, the population of Ellenbrook was around 10,000-11,000 residents (based on 2006-2011 census data). Today, the population has grown to more than 24,600 residents as of the 2021 Census.

This represents more than a doubling of the population since the skatepark was originally built.

The City of Swan was contacted for comment but was unable to respond before deadline.

The petition can be signed on change.org