Features / skateboarding
On the Curb: meet the people behind Bedminster’s newest skatepark
Under a bustling flyover between Bedminster and Hotwells, a community of skaters has transformed a neglected stretch of concrete into one of Bristol’s most dynamic DIY skateparks.
Built from scratch, funded by donations and defended against arson attacks, Curbside is a testament to what passion, plywood and persistence can build.
If you had visited the site four years ago, you would not have wanted to stay there long.
is needed now More than ever
A dark, dingy corner of Bedminster, under a busy overpass… not exactly the ideal spot for building a place of fun, recreation and community.
But, a group of skaters had other ideas for the area.
With little help or funding, if these skaters wanted a place to practice their pikes and find friendships, they would have to do it themselves.
Connor Alexander, who has been involved with building Curbside for the past three years, began skating there when there was just one mini-ramp, which the skaters now call the “mini-mini”.
“It was the smallest ramp I had ever seen, and it offered the perfect opportunity to learn how to skate again,” says Connor.
“I was 32 years old by then!
“I moved to Bedminster three and a half years ago. I was unemployed at that time so basically spent most of my days down there.
“One day I met up with an old friend, James, who had also moved nearby by coincidence and, after a while, he introduced me to George, who had organised the mini-mini build.”
The skaters then got to work on installing Curbside’s second ramp, which they dubbed the “big-mini”.
“A large group of us assembled it around Christmas time three years ago,” says Connor.
“There is a Whatsapp group that coordinates the builds, but George has mostly been the lead of all of this.
“He has been incredible in setting up community fundraising, buying materials, renting vans and recently raising money from a charity to rebuild the mini-mini which got burnt down.”
Curbside is a DIY skatepark in Bedminster
Curbside has come a long way.
As Connor tells the story of how they prepared for the installation of the newest ramp, it is clear that the community-driven, DIY spirit of the skatepark has endured.
“First we had to move the big-mini, which we skated to its current location,” Connor says smiling. “A bunch of us just rolled it there on loads of skateboards!”
Sam Huxtable, who has also been involved with Curbside since its days as a one-ramp park, says the DIY culture is one of the things that attracted him to skating and to Curbside. “Skating culture has, at least on a local level, retained its punk routes where doing it yourself is not only accepted, it’s encouraged,” he says.
But, while Curbside is still being built and maintained by the community that first founded it, word is spreading and that community is growing. “The most recent ramp was organised by Jordan Thackeray, who hasn’t been involved with any of the others,” Connor explains.
“Jordan’s a pro skater, so the existing mini-ramps were too small for him,” he laughs. “But I’m very glad he took an interest and gave us that huge ramp. It must be one of the best ramps in the UK!”
Curbside is now a playground for the pros like Thackeray, but also welcomes a diverse group of users, with inclusivity as a core value for those who made the park what it is now.
“A massive amount of people come and go of all ages, from children who can barely walk to older lads like me who have picked up skating foolishly,” says Connor. “I’ve seen dads skating with their children, boys and girls learning how to drop in on the mini-mini.”
Sam believes that one way Curbside differs from other skate parks is its accessibility and openness. “Firstly, you have a large variety of ramp sizes, so the beginner or the advanced skater can find something to skate,” he says.
“Second, everyone there is always super non-judgemental. I can’t think of many places I’ve skated where you can have a session that includes men and women of all ages, from under ten all the way up to 60.”
Connor adds: “It’s a very tight group really, there is a good core of people who are regulars, who helped build everything and who love skating together.”
Alex Walker, a skater who, like Connor and Sam, moved to Bristol and began skating at Curbside when it was just beginning to grow, felt this group offered a “calm, caring environment”. It was, he says, “a perfect opportunity to meet new people”.
There are elements of the community around Curbside that are not so friendly, however.
The ramps have had to survive multiple arson attempts over the years.
Connor puts this down to territorial behaviour from those who would prefer to see the space go back to its dark and unused past.
“Before, people would just go there to strip and burn motorbikes they stole. Now the ramps are there, it’s becoming a bit busier with nicer people and I see less and less stolen bikes there,” says Connor.
“I think this is why they keep burning the ramps, because they’re annoyed that the space is being used more.
“First the smallest mini-ramp got burnt.
“George raised money from a charity and the community helped rebuild it with a spine.
“Everything is an opportunity to make it better!
“More recently, the big-mini was set on fire. Fortunately, my friends happened to be walking by at the time and rang the fire brigade who put it out before the fire took the other half!”
Under a bustling flyover between Bedminster and Hotwells, a community of skaters has transformed a neglected stretch of concrete into one of Bristol’s most dynamic DIY skateparks
Alex is getting “sick and tired of a small group of balaclava-wearing lads who are involved in anti-social and criminal behaviour around Curbside, robbing people and setting fire to things”.
“They’re a real menace,” he says. But his reaction epitomises the response from the wider Curbside community: “How are we going to build again, and not allow these vandals to desecrate our sacred space?”
“We had a massive influx of donations to get the ramps rebuilt,” says Sam. “The response was great and we had huge amounts of support on the day. I’ve got a lot of love for the way people responded.”
Sam believes the biggest existential threat to Curbside, however, is housing being built next to the park. “Daveside, another DIY skate park around the corner, has already been torn down to make room,” he says.
“I think we will have issues with people complaining about noise, and because skateboarding still has an image of being antisocial, those complaints will be taken more seriously.
“But, in reality, it’s an activity that allows you to meet some of the best people, and go on the best adventures.”
In the face of these mindless acts of arson and the threat of housing development, Curbside represents more than a skatepark.
It is a reclaiming of an unused urban space that these skaters are committed to defending and building stronger.
“First, we need to rebuild the big-mini that was partially burnt down recently,” says Connor with a sense of grit and optimism that perfectly encapsulates the vibe at Curbside.
“I hope the council sees what a great place it is and how much money and graft has been put into it,” he says. “I hope they support it, and make sure it grows. It’s definitely got an identity now.”
All photos: Sam Dorrian
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
