Councillors have agreed to spend £566,000 on bringing the iconic Kennington Park Skatebowl – known locally as “Kenny” – back to its former glory.
The skatebowl has been closed for several years, due to dangerous unevenness caused by foundation movement – linked to the skatepark’s original construction on a tarmac court and subsequent distortion from tree roots.
Lambeth now plan to appoint a specialist contractor to resolve these long‑standing structural issues, which affect the surface of the culturally significant facility
The proposed works involve installing screw‑pile foundations, realigning concrete slabs, and using specialist contractors skilled in skateboard‑grade concrete fabrication and finishing.
The extensive work will also include asbestos remediation, essential concrete works, grinding/polishing, access-ramp design and construction.
Kennington Skatepark, which is a free-to-use outdoor site, is one of the oldest in the country. It was designed by the “grandfather of British skateboarding” Lorne Edwards and opened in 1978 – and attracts skateboarders, BMX bikers and others riders of all ages and abilities from across the borough.
The council owns the site, and has worked closely with local residents on previous refurbishment projects for the facility. The intention is to restore the bowl to a high‑quality, safe, and long‑term standard, so it can reopen for community use and maintain its prominence within the skateboarding community.
The funding for the project was included in next year’s Capital Investment Programme, agreed by the council’s cabinet at a meeting earlier this month.
The entire Capital Investment Programme, which includes dozens of projects, had previously been paused and placed under review, as part of emergency measures to tackle an unprecedented budget crisis.
The decision was endorsed at a special meeting of the Full Council last week, when councillors agreed a budget to put the borough “on a path to financial sustainability”, allowing it to continue to invest in improving front-line public services. The Budget report set out “a reduced but still significant capital programme of £74.5m”, including the money to revive the skatepark.
Cllr Donatus Anyanwu, Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, said: “Kennington Skatepark is highly valued by people in Lambeth and far beyond, and we’re delighted that we’ve been able to confirm this vital support.
“This funding underlines our long-term commitment to this skatepark as a valuable community asset for years to come. We’re determined that this investment will secure Kenny’s future as a skatepark that can be enjoyed by everyone.”
