The Society for Friends of the Trail Skate Park (SFTSP) took the initiative and teamed up with Kootenay Skate Board Series for a fun day of skating and coaching at the Trail Memorial Centre’s Cominco Arena on Saturday.
Over 100 people from ages four to 50 took their skateboards, scooters, and roller skates to the impromptu skate park in support of potentially a more permanent one in Greater Trail.
“Only $212, 804 to go,” said Scott Daniels, chair of the SFTSP in an email. “For a $550,000 park, we are well on our way to seeing a skate park for youth in Trail because of the generosity of the community-minded businesses and individuals in the Greater Trail area.”
The free event brought all ages and levels to together for riding, coaching, a game of skate, and prizes, while enjoying music performed by local band Roy Has Fire, and complimentary pizza from Panago.
“It’s just to gain awareness of the skate park, and give the youth a place to come and play,” said Liz Johnston, coordinator of the Columbia Youth Community Development Centre (YCDC). “They’re really itching to ride and play together. It’s been a great mixture of groups, there’s younger kids, there’s some here on their roller blades . . . it’s just fun to get them altogether.”
The proposed Skate Park has had to clear many hurdles over the years, but the Trail skate park committee remains focused and intent on achieving their fundraising goal of $275,000.
“We just want to show that we’re still here and we want the skate park to happen,” said Johnston.
In June 2012, Trail council committed to funding one half of the estimated $550,000 cost for the proposed skate park.
Before construction on the project moves forward, the SkatePark committee is expected to raise the other half of the money required.
The 8,000-square-foot recreational facility would be open to skateboarders, roller skaters, in-line skaters, scooter riders and BMX bike riders.
The planned site for the project is across from the Colombo Lodge in the Gulch.
For more information, visit www.skatetrail.com