The Western Bay of Plenty District Council is pleased to announce Te Puke's new designer skate park is now officially opened for the serious business of fun.

Measuring 626m2, the new $280,000 park joins up with the bleachers and half basketball court in Jubilee Park, and has been a project three years in the making.

The new park incorporates a lot of feedback gathered from Te Puke's skating community and was designed and built by Rich Landscapes and J-Stone Skate Parks, the same companies behind the award winning Omokoroa skate path.

'This is a great thing for Te Puke, and I know from the Omokoroa experience, places like this skate park become a centre of the community,” says Western Bay Mayor Garry Webber.

'This has been in the pipeline for three years now and it's great to be officially opening the park today.”

Western Bay of Plenty District Mayor Garry Webber, with Te Puke Skate Park project control group members Karyl Gunn-Thomas, and Richard Crawford.

Following the official blessing, speeches and the ribbon cutting ceremony, locals got a chance to show off their skills in BMX, skateboard and scooter competitions, as well as watch a demonstration from leading New Zealand's skateboarder Shaun Boucher.

The district council would like to thank everyone who contributed to making the Te Puke skate park project possible – including a $15,000 anonymous donation.

Contributions were also received from TECT, First Sovereign Trust, Te Puke Kiwi Coast Lions, Te Puke Community Board, WBOPDC and the Te Puke Skatepark Project Control Group.

Tuurama Bell, 4.

Levi, 7, and Jaggar, 6, Townley and Sam Brann, 7.

Azareah Noland, 6.