Councillors approved a plan to earmark money from the Draft Capital Works Program 2015-19 at this week’s meeting.

The decision came after a council study of the skate parks found that the youth facilities needed upgrades.

Sites include Rutherford, High Street and Harold Gregson Reserve in Maitland, Largs, Metford, Woodberry and Thornton.

Thornton resident Suzanne Parks has been an advocate for improvements to youth spaces in the city recently.

She and her husband, Pastor Damien Parks, held the successful Shred Sk8 Festival at Thornton last weekend.

Council’s report rated Thornton skate park one of five facilities that were in poor condition and in need of significant repairs.

Mrs Parks welcomed news of the funding and suggested that the site needed a drinking fountain, seats, a bin, lighting and bathroom facilities.

She said these upgrades could mean that young people who used the skate park would take greater ownership of the facility and look after it.

“It’s so exciting,” she said.

“Kids do use the pathetic park because there isn’t a great deal else to do, there is not another community space, like there is a beach in Newcastle.

“It shows that we [as a community] do things about activating space for our kids, we don’t just talk about it.”

Community and recreation services manager Lynn Morton said council was aware that the region’s skate parks were popular.

“The report has highlighted a number of areas for improvement at the skate parks, which council will look to address over time,” she said.

“Similarly we will look at ways we can invigorate and improve these sites and continue to make sure they remain a popular recreation facility for users.

“Council is also proactively looking at the construction of an additional skate park in East Maitland, however the location is yet to be finalised.”