It has been about 40 years since Russ Klemmer has tried his luck on a skateboard.
Nevertheless, the 47-year-old Kinsman still understands how important it is to build a modern skatepark facility for Innisfail. It is, he maintains, a perfect vehicle that can tie the community together.
“I grew up in a time when the skateboards looked a little bit different, but it was still a fun activity to do and now we bring it to an area that can tie in activities for other family members at the same time,” said Klemmer, a director for the Innisfail Kinsmen. “You can bring out your family – mother, daughter, father and son can be out skateboarding while the other part of the family is out throwing a baseball or playing on the swing sets.”
The next two weeks promise to be a busy but exciting time for the Kinsmen and the Kinette Club of Innisfail. On Sept. 10 and 11, the service clubs are hosting the Weekend of Wheels, an event they not only rescued but have rebranded as a fundraiser for the town's ambitious plan to build a modern skatepark.
The project took an exciting leap forward on Aug. 22 when the town released two concept designs created by the Calgary office of New Line Skateparks. They will be formally presented to Innisfailians, including the skateboard and BMX communities, at an open house on Sept. 15 at the Innisfail Library/Learning Centre.
“We will be there,” said Klemmer, emphasizing the remarkable timing of the open house just four days after the Weekend of Wheels event that already put the skatepark project front and centre for the public.
“I was quite impressed with them,” he said of the two released concept designs for the new park that will be located on the existing green space next to the existing horseshoe pits at the intersection of 42 Street and 50 Avenue. “I live in that area, so I drive by and when I look at the space I initially thought there was not enough room to have the skateboard park.
“I guess in my mind I had envisioned a big rectangular chunk of concrete, but the concept drawings really tied into the area quite nicely and left a good amount of green spaces as well, so I am looking forward to it.”
The skatepark dream for the community will not be cheap. The release of the two concept designs did not come with price tags, but already a price tag of up to $500,000 has been discussed. The project is being driven by the needs and desires of the young skateboarding and BMX riding communities and they may insist on tweaks and revisions at the Sept. 15 open house, which could drive up the price.
In the meantime, the Kinsmen and Kinettes have been researching available government grants that could help, notably the provincial Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP), which has a maximum matchable amount of $125,000. They will also look at what other communities have done to make their skatepark projects become a reality.
“We are not trying to recreate the wheel. We've seen other municipalities that were successful in putting their projects together, and we will definitely talk to them for ideas that will generate the additional funds that we need to get the park completed,” said Klemmer. “We will also talk to other groups, like the one from Carstairs that is working on its skateboard park, and they've done everything from small bottle drives to larger raffles to help generate income for funds towards their skateboard park. Nothing is out of bounds as far as options for us.”
However, what could be difficult nuts to crack are the ongoing difficult economy, and competition with other fundraising drives for other community needs. Even so, Klemmer does not believe the fundraising strategy changes much from when the local and provincial economies were strong, adding people still have to make decisions as to where their donation dollars go.
Tough economy or not, the Kinsmen and Kinettes are determined to make their fundraising project work. They know the skatepark dream is critically important, a perfect followup to last year's marvellous playground dream for the Innisfail Schools Campus, and a project that will connect to the many other amenities now immediately available at or near the site.
“You have family members, some that may be skateboarders and others that are too young for that, having access to the playground at the school that is brand new. As a family you can come out and do what you want to do,” said Klemmer, noting there is also the ball diamonds, tennis courts, and swimming pool at the nearby Innisfail Aquatic Centre.
“Everything blends together in a nice way,” he added. “It is certainly a busy time but at the same time, very exciting.”
Russ Klemmer, director for the Innisfail Kinsmen
"We are not trying to recreate the wheel. We've seen other municipalities that were successful in putting their projects together and we will definitely talk to them for ideas that will generate the additional funds that we need to get the park completed."
