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Public input sought on skate park design

The consultants hired to design Trail’s new skate park are looking for community input before they sketch out the facility to be located by the chain-up area in the Gulch.

The consultants hired to design Trail’s new skate park are looking for community input before they sketch out the facility to be located by the chain-up area in the Gulch.

Residents are encouraged to share their ideas at a public workshop next week.

“We all hope to sort of draw the community in and get people interested and get them excited about the process,” said River Jones, of the Columbia Youth Community Development Centre and skateboard park committee member.

“It’s been a long drawn-out process, so just to get that energy back and refocus everybody and hear what everybody has to say, will be refreshing.”

Considered a “wheel park,” the recreational environment on Rossland Avenue will be open to skateboarders, roller skaters, inline skaters, scooter riders and BMX riders to develop their technique on a site that is also welcoming to other community members.

“The position of the skate park committee is about having this park be a community investment,” said Jones. “It’s not just about skateboarding or about being an all-wheel park, it’s about injecting some life into the Gulch area for one and investing in the youth.”

Beyond discussing some key structures like rails and banks local youth would like to see on site, recommendations on what the park should include were made early on.

 

The urban site will tout showers, a playground, a sitting area and year-round washrooms, which will also be available to those frequenting the chain-up area, sani-dump or taking advantage of the Piazza Colombo.

“Even if you don’t skate board or BMX yourself, it’s an attraction,” said Jones. “You can go down there and sit and enjoy the scenery and check out the local talent.”

The workshop will be open to locals who don’t sit on the skate park committee and have suggestions they’d like to share.

A presentation at the beginning of the workshop will kick off the 7 p.m. meeting that is set for next Thursday in the Red Floor Room at the Trail Memorial Centre.

The consultants will also answer questions from participants and host an interactive segment.

New Line Skate Parks, hired to complete the $25,000 design, is a full service design and construction firm based out of Greater Vancouver that specializes in the development of integrated concrete skate parks and other progressive “skateable” environments.

The design is expected to be complete by October, with future budgetary items explored next year.