An urban sports park has opened in Barking with a day of sporting activities, exercise and ceremony.
The park in Minden Gardens, Barking, was officially opened on Saturday with young people skateboarding, BMX riding, and enjoying other activities.
The opening ceremony featured a visit by Cllr Hardial Singh Rai, Mayor of Barking and Dagenham, who gave a speech supporting the new park.
There were impressive parkour demonstrations, with professionals showing off their tricks to the crowd, and coaching for visitors who wanted to learn and try out new sports.
Parkour is a training discipline, created in France, using movement that developed from obstacle course training.
The day also offered entertainment in the form of dance performances from Barking and Dagenham Youth Dance.
The sports park has been praised by Cllr Hardial Singh Rai, Mayor of Barking and Dagenham, and by the council as a boost for the community that will benefit young people and help to reduce antisocial behaviour.
The mayor said: “The play area has state of the art equipment and is an exciting facility for young people.
“It’s a place where they can come and enjoy themselves, learn new skills and meet new people.
“It will benefit young people in the borough,” he added.
The play area is built on a former garage site between the new Reside development at Thames View East and Havering Way.
When work started on the 277 new homes planning permission was granted for it to be turned into a play area.
The games area for children and teenagers includes a parkour/free running area, a skateboard zone, a BMX zone, as well as a sports and fitness areas.
The park also has a play area including a 20m zip-wire and a giant rope swing.
Cllr Cameron Geddes, cabinet member for regeneration, said the park would also help to reduce some forms of crime.
He said: “The garages formerly on this site were a magnet for antisocial behaviour, so this play area will be a great improvement.”
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