Methven skaters now have somewhere to perfect their tricks and flips after the town's long awaited outdoor skatepark officially opened at the weekend (11 July).

The skatepark had been 13 years in the making, with the Kidzmethven committee working for years to take the facility from dream to reality for local families.

Pictured: Kids lined up with their scooters and boards ready to test out the park.

Hundreds of people joined the committee as the ribbon was cut, with many of them carrying skateboards and scooters in tow ready to flip and kick their way across the brand new concrete.​

Committee member Sally-Ann Kicher said she could not be more proud of what had been achieved. The dream of a new outdoor skatepark had been borne from a holiday in Wanaka when her now adult children were aged just 12 and 14 years old. The skatepark there was hugely popular with kids and everyone treated each other respectfully.

The idea was to bring a similar family-friendly facility to Methven, after an indoor skatepark in the town was forced to close when it sustained damage in the 2011 earthquakes, leaving the town without a purpose-built facility.Pictured: Local skaterboarders were quick to test out the ramps.

After a meeting with then Ashburton District Councillor, Ken Lowe, the commitee was formed with fellow parents and the fundraising began.

On Saturday 11 July, armed with giant scissors, Sally-Ann and Ashburton District Mayor Neil Brown finally cut the ribbon, and with formalities all finished the crowd took to the park to test it out.

Pictured: Ashburton District Mayor Neil Brown and Sally-Ann Kircher cutting the ribbon to officially open the skatepark.

Final touches are still being made to the large concrete bowl, but the rest of the $130,000 facility is open for business.

The skatepark has been built on a reserve on the corner of McMillan and Banks Streets, which the Council has leased to the committee for a nominal (peppercorn) rent.

Pictured: Ready to roll! Local kids lining up their scooters to head down the ramp.

The facility has had support from right around the community, with several fundraisers, grants and generous donations from several charities and foundations to help raise the $130,000.

The Methven Community Board also assisted with the resource consent application.

Much of the construction work has been carried out by volunteers.