The final fine-tuned design for the community's long awaited and hotly debated new skatepark will be unveiled tonight.
Representatives from Calgary-based New Line Skateparks will be on hand at the Innisfail Library/Learning Centre with final drawings and three-dimensional renderings to show the public, particularly members of the skateboarding and BMX communities whose passion for the past two decades has been aired out at the antiquated 50th Street facility.
The open house, which will start at 6:30 p.m. in the foyer between the library and Community Room, is the third the town has organized since last April. The last one was held Sept. 15, which featured two concept designs – both including several types of standard features popular with skateboarders and BMX riders, as well as ones unique to Innisfail.
“We have narrowed it down to one design,” said Henry Wong, director of community services. “It is an opportunity for the community, particularly the skateboarding community, to come back out and have a look at the final layout and offer any last-minute comments.
“If there is any fine-tuning to be done they can do that, but for all intents and purposes the design has been selected. There could be some minor suggestions, minor changes based on the information we received on the open house on Tuesday,” added Wong.
Meanwhile, the town's chosen location for the new skatepark at the intersection of 42 Street and 51 Avenue will remain the same, despite some passionate public opposition, particularly from members of the Innisfail and District Horseshoe Club who fear their neighbouring facility and its tournaments will be adversely affected.
“That is council's directive, that the location we have identified is the location where the park is going to be built,” said Wong.
He said the next step for the project, which could cost up to $500,000 to complete, will be to receive an estimate from New Line on how much money will be needed to construct the facility. The town will also promote fundraising throughout the community to help pay for the overall cost, which will almost certainly be supplemented by a matching provincial grant.
The Innisfail Kinsmen and the Kinette Club of Innisfail have received council's endorsement to take the lead on community fundraising for the new skatepark facility. The clubs' first big fundraiser for the skatepark was the annual Weekend of Wheels event in September.
Henry Wong, director of community services
"If there is any fine-tuning to be done they can do that, but for all intents and purposes the design has been selected."
