Ticket sales from the raffle, drawn outside the Gason factory on Friday, will go towards installing a new “bowl” at the park in which users can perform tricks.

The first prize was a wood heater and the second prize a $100 Lardner voucher.

Ararat Rural City councillor Gwenda Allgood said she was grateful for the support.

“It’s really important in a small community like this that we work towards our youth, and that’s what we are trying to achieve with this project,” she said.

The Bill Waterson Skate Park will include a precinct for recreation activities.

Cr Allgood said the project had received money from the federal government to put up a new shade sail and part of an ongoing fundraising effort for the project.

“We have had cake stalls and all sorts of things, donations from the service clubs,” she said. 

“We’re getting close to about $170,000 towards to project. Ararat Rural City has said we’ll need a lot more to do the whole area.” 

Cr Allgood said a new walking track would improve the area for families and provide an outdoor activity area right in the centre of town.

Gason managing director Terry Pye said he donated a prize because the upgrades would be good for the community.

“It’s good to have young people able to get involved in worthwhile leisure exercises instead of spending time on the street,” he said.