With a commemorative plaque for Malton BMXer Tom Warrington
After a long campaign, spearheaded by skateboarder Ryan Swain, repairs at Malton and Norton Skatepark are underway. At the March meeting of Norton Town Council members voted to appoint a contractor, King Ramps, to repair and resurface the smaller ramps on the skatepark.
The campaign has had much community support, offers of help and even messages of support from professionals including Tony Hawk, Bucky Lasek, Christian Hosi, Danny Way and Jamie Bestwick.
Ryan Swain said: We are a year on since I started the #RescueTheRamp campaign. I just wanted to thank each and every one of the people who supported, donated, volunteered and contributed to the campaign.
The works started on-site at the end of March and Ryan has been on hand helping out with the repairs.
The skatepark is set to open in April for all to enjoy and is set to be one of the best skateparks in the area when completed.
The halfpipe ramp restoration is set to be voted on at a future Town Council meeting.
Commemorative Plaque
A blue commemorative plaque has been put up at the skate park to pay tribute to Malton BMXer Tom Warrington. Tom passed away in 2008. He was a much-loved character at the skatepark and beyond.
Ryan said: “After a lot of organising and planning I have taken the liberty today to get this very special blue commemorative plaque in memory of someone myself and many others loved greatly at the skatepark and were the soul of it for many years down there, Thomas Lloyd Warrington. Since his death in 2008 many of us have always said or tried to get some sort of commemorative piece for him at the skatepark as he truly loved it down there and met so many amazing people at the facility. Tom was one of the finest BMX talents to come out of Malton. But above all, he was one of the most charming, fun-loving, kind-hearted and generous spirits many of us have ever known. Now a little piece of him will always be flying over us down there whether you are a user or just simply passing by. Tom tragically passed away in 2008 but his legacy will live on through one of the things he loved doing the most, BMXing. All I ask is that users respect and honour this greatly as he was so loved within our community and beyond.”
