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This series documents a self-built skatepark that existed on the remains of a former retail park in Manchester City Centre, on the site where a Toys R Us once stood. Built by local skaters using reclaimed materials, wood pallets, and cement, the space became an important gathering point for the skate community, attracting people from across Manchester and surrounding towns.

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The photographs explore the relationship between place, community, and shared ownership. Although many of the skaters who used the space were strangers to one another, the park operated through an unspoken sense of respect, patience, and cooperation, with people taking turns and adapting to each other’s presence. The space became more than a place to skate; it represented creativity, independence, and the ability of a community to create something meaningful from an overlooked location.

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The series also reflects on the temporary nature of these spaces. Since the skatepark has now been removed to make way for new development, the photographs serve as a record of a place that existed through collective effort and connection. The location holds a unique significance, particularly for those who may have first encountered skateboarding through the Toys R Us that previously occupied the site, creating a link between childhood memories and the community that grew there years later.

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