A new skate park will officially open tomorrow following a petition with more than 500 signatures calling for such a facility.

Plans for a £125,000 skate park at Hampson Park in Stevenage were unveiled in March, in a bid to meet demand.

At the time, the town only had one skate park – at the Bowes Lyon Centre on St George’s Way – and a petition had been mounted asking for another facility.

Stevenage Borough Council asked residents to vote whether they would like to see it at Hampson Park or King George V Playing Fields, with 97 per cent in favour of the Hampson site.

Skaters in the area picked the design out of a choice of three and the new facility, built by Wheelscape, includes a 1.2m-high mini ramp section, quarter pipes, and a waterfall into open bowl section.

Skater Jamie Thompson said: “I think it’s going to be brilliant and I think it will be popular. I’ll definitely be going there with my friends as often as I can.”

Professional and amateur skaters will be at the park on Saturday to see Stevenage mayor Howard Burrell officially open the new facility.

The event, which starts at 12 noon, is open to all and there will be demonstrations by professional skaters, competitions and giveaways, and the opportunity to have a go on the free facility.

The project has been funded by the New Homes Bonus Scheme – a Government grant given to the council for successful housing delivery.

Councillor Richard Henry, the council’s executive member for leisure, said: “Skaters in Stevenage have been asking us to provide a new custom-built skate park for some time, and we’re very excited it’s now built and ready to open.

“I hope lots of people will come and join us at Hampson Park on Saturday to watch some pro skaters in action and get inspired to have a go themselves.”