After years of debate a skate park proposed to the City of Trail is another step closer to becoming a reality.
On Monday night in the regular council meeting, the city committed to funding one half of the estimated $550,000 cost for the proposed skate park.
But before construction on this project moves forward the skateboard committee is expected to raise the other half of the money required.
“The city will quite often enter into partnerships like that for the construction of either amenity areas or recreational facilities,” explained corporate administrator Michelle McIsaac.
“What we do is come up with a 50/50 type cost sharing arrangement and the external group, in this case it’s the skateboard park committee, has their funding in place.
“Then, the city steps up and we undertake construction so we wouldn’t get started until the money is in place.”
The Columbia Youth Community Development Centre (YCDC) has supported the project by fundraising, raising awareness and supporting youth in their efforts to move forward on this project.
“The YCDC makes up only one aspect of a fundraising committee,” said Morgan-River Jones, the coordinator at the Columbia YCDC. “Additional fundraising will be the responsibility of the entire skate park committee.”
But there’s no denying the weight of the YCDC’s involvement on a project of this scale, a result that could have been triggered when the YCDC backed a group of youth who petitioned the city when the idea was initially raised in Trail council.
“The YCDC is an integral part of the Skateboard Park Committee and they’ve already done some fundraising at various events,” said McIsaac. “They’ve done T-shirt sales in the past, but they’re also seeking funding through external grant opportunities.
“So, they made up applications through the CBT Community Initiatives Funding and the Skateboard Park Committee with YCDC, being a part of that, will be looking at other funding sources—essentially grant opportunities.”
In April the group’s grant application was denied by the Community Recreation Program.
But Trail council decided to support the construction of a park on the city’s undeveloped land adjacent to the chain-up area on Rossland Avenue. The 8,000-square-foot recreational facility on Rossland Avenue will be open to skateboarders, roller skaters, inline skaters, scooter riders and BMX bike riders.
McIsaac expects to share the news with members of the skate park committee at their regular meeting on June 20. The meeting is open to the public and will take place in City Hall at 4:30 p.m.
“The city will then be able to advise the committee members what council’s commitment is and the city can continue to fundraise their 50 per cent of the share, their $250,000, towards the construction costs,” revealed McIsaac.
“If you visualize a large, concrete surface and whatnot—we couldn’t get started without all of the money in place. We couldn’t get started and then say ‘oh well’ and leave it until we get the rest of the money in place.”