When Belmont secondary relocates into its new home at Glen Lake and Sobey’s takes over the property on Jacklin Road, the West Shore’s lone skatepark will also disappear.
The existing park cost $128,649 and opened in 2007 behind the school, off Kelly Road.
Rob Martin, board chair for West Shore Parks and Recreation, said a skateboard committee has been formed to address the situation. Parks and rec. community development officer Bobbi Neil, who heads up the committee, says her role isn’t necessarily to lead the process, but to “facilitate this community opportunity.” She adds they are currently in phase 3 of a four-phase process for getting a new park up and running.
Phase 1 included a review of the status of the current park and an assessment of West Shore Parks and Recreation’s role in it. The second phase saw that information shared at a public forum, at which attendees were asked about the need for such a facility.
“We received that response, and yes, they do want a skatepark,” Neil says, “so now my role moving forward into phase 3 is to bring people together to help figure out how to make it happen.”
The first step is to find possible locations for the new park, she says.
“Right now we’re working with the various municipalities to determine where it could be located. Once we find a home for it, we’ll start looking at what the specifics of the park will be and fundraising to get it built.”
The committee is made up of various stakeholders interested in the project, including, but not limited to, community members, law enforcement, users of the park and business owners.
“It’s definitely a collaborative process, which is open to all who are interested. We’re hoping to engage the public in various capacities,” Neil says, though no dates have been secured yet for future consultation sessions.
Anyone who would like to know more or get involved with the project in any capacity can contact Neil at bneil@westshorerecreation.ca or 250-474-8665. Future public consultations will be announced as soon as possible.
mdavies@goldstreamgazette.com