Preston's new ski slope and water sports lake as plans finally take shape

Sailing and watersports lake at Phoenix Park

A ski slope and watersports lake are set to be built on a Preston park.

The lake – which would host activities including cable water-skiing, windsurfing and kayaking – and 12m high dry ski slope are the latest part of major plans to transform Phoenix Park into a modern and eco-friendly leisure attraction. Plans have been submitted to Preston City Council and could also see the facility provide support and training to vulnerable children.

The new planning application forms Phase 2 of a wider masterplan for the site which could eventually see it play hose to huge climbing wall facilities, high ropes, a large wave pool, skate park, 4G football pitch and off-road biking. The masterplan is the brainchild of Edward Sloan who formed Trax Motorsport in January 2000 on the banks of the River Ribble.

The company was set up to help the local council and police deal with illegal riding of motorcycles on public land and spaces and did so by create a safe, managed place on the land formerly known as Preston Docks to ride off-road motorbikes. That has flourished over the past 20 years and Mr Sloan went on to set up a vocational academy for young people excluded from school and those in care.

Continuing that work forms a major element of this plan, with vulnerable young people being given training and support to work on the new attractions. The plan also includes 13 lodges to be used as transitional homes for people leaving the care system for the first time.

The site is located on Preston Docklands, accessed off Wallend Road via Riversway, and if approved will be open to the public to enjoy. The planned ski slope will be 95-metre-long slope, at a gradient of approximately 11 degrees. It will have a safe surrounding gradient which can also be used in part for uphill/downhill mountain biking.

Running alongside the ski slope is a mountain bike track providing for a down hill run for cyclists to practice. The proposed leisure lake is located at the western end of the site and will be used for canoeing, stand up paddle boarding (SUP) as well as other forms of leisure water craft. In addition to this the lake will also incorporate a mechanical pully water-ski system to provide for carbon free water skiing on the lake within a specific and confined area.

A report submitted with the application states: “The application proposal forms part of a high quality leisure and education facility which provides accommodation and education for young people from the looked after care system and a leisure facility available for use by the wider population. The wider site, known as Phoenix Park, is already used for the education and training of children and young people together with public access to the motocross and go-kart circuits. The proposal builds upon this existing facility providing additional facility for use on the site.”

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