Rough plans for the park have been presented to attendees – including dozens of youngsters and parents – at a Friends of the Valley Gardens meeting.

The BMX-friendly park would be built next to the pitch and putt course and include infra red CCTV monitoring.

It has the backing of councillors and the town's head of parks and open spaces, Patrick Kilburn, who told last Thursday's meeting he is "looking to move it forward."

Mr Kilburn said: "The whole concept idea is for it to fit into the natural landscape at the top end of the Valley Gardens.

Completed this year

"We chose this site as it is not in the gardens itself but in the recreational area."

The project has been spurred on by the success of a regular temporary skatepark in the gardens, organised by youth workers.

The proposal must now be agreed by Harrogate Council's cabinet on Wednesday.

If the plans are passed, Mr Kilburn said the skatepark would be completed this year.

About £140,000 has been earmarked for the facility from sources including grant money, fees from developers and capital funds.

Positive

Assuring skaters and BMX bikers that they would be consulted when coming up with the final design, Mr Kilburn said: "We are going to talk to you to find out what items will be included in it then the final design will go forward for approval."

Parent Rachel Gregory, from High Harrogate, has a 12-year-old son who is a keen skater. She currently has to travel with him to Leeds so he can use a skatepark there.

She said: "I'm really pleased that at long last young skaters in the town are having their needs listened to and it's all sounding really positive."

The cabinet meeting is open to the public. It will take place at 5.30pm on Wednesday at the council offices on Crescent Gardens. Plans can be seen at http://bit.ly/dfgAES

- See next week's Harrogate Advertiser (Feb 5) for a report from Wednesday's cabinet meeting.