Its easier than it has been in recent times, but its still bloody hard... First things first; form a riders/skaters committee. Sounds like bullshit, and it is for the most part but the council like that kinda thing. Next up is a petition with as many worthwhile signatures on it as possible, i.e. the local police, businessmen, council workers like sports centre trainers/instructors that kinda thing.
That could be 6 months work right there; the petition needs to have hundreds of signatures on it and a good few personal reccommendations from high profile people is always a boost too. You need to show the council that a park is a neccessity in your area, not a luxury.....
Alex's Oxford tale is not unusual at all sadly. Oddly enough though, when I was at Fearless Ramps we built a couple or 3 parks in the Oxford area and that may well have served to damage his cause in the long run. Can't do right for doing wrong, as they say..