THE design for a skate park dedicated to a 14-year-old who died in a road accident will be unveiled for the first time this week.
Friends and family of Joshua Dale have been fundraising for the park since he died after being knocked off his bike in Colwick Loop road on January 13.
Around £15,000 has been raised so far and the design will be unveiled for the first time on Friday – when Joshua would have celebrated his 15th birthday.
Joshua's mother Faith Dale, 52, of Little Ox, Colwick, is keeping the new design closely guarded until it is unveiled at a fundraising event at Vale Road Social Club.
"Josh's friends have put forward ideas for the design and now they've all been put together so it's exciting that they haven't seen that yet," she said. "I think it's going to look absolutely fantastic because it's got a bit of a twist in it which makes it personal to Josh
"It's very different to anything else and it's very fitting and apt for all his friends and kids in the Colwick area."
Friends of Joshua, a pupil at Carlton le Willows Academy, established the Josh Dale Memorial Fund soon after his death.
As the collection grew they decided to put the money towards a skate park, which Joshua, who enjoyed BMX-ing and music, had previously asked the parish council about providing.
Through sponsored challenges and fundraising events a total of £15,000 has been raised. Applications are also in to obtain finance from a Local Improvement Scheme and WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental Limited).
A total of £100,000 is needed for the skate park and work is expected to start next May.
The final design was drawn up by Groundwork and Ross Marshall, who worked on the skate park at Radcliffe-on-Trent.
Mrs Dale said that the continued support for the project has been overwhelming.
"It's nine months now since Joshua died but it still feels like it was yesterday," she said.
"It's almost like the numbness wears off and then reality kicks in so it's a very different life that we have but the skate park is driving me forward.
"I'm so amazed by the support.
"It's lovely and it has helped. The support comes from everywhere, from people of all ages, and I'm really surprised and touched by it all."
The event at the Vale Road Social Club will take place on Friday from 7pm and will include a buffet, raffle and auction. The skate park design will be unveiled at 8.30pm. Entry is by ticket only. A limited number of tickets will be available on the door for £5.
