The kids with the funny hats, those delightful skateboarding and BMX riding dudes with attitudes, have resoundingly proved they are all in.
More importantly, they proved to the public and to town council they are the experts as far as what's needed for a new modern-day state-of-the-art facility in Innisfail.
More than 50 young skateboarders and BMX riders, along with parents, town officials and interested citizens, packed the Innisfail Library/Learning Centre on April 28 for the first Skatepark Design Workshop.
“I am really, really impressed. The last time we tried to rally the skateboarders, we had five,” said Coun. Patt Churchill of the last effort two years ago. “This shows they are very passionate to show up here, and through the whole presentation they didn't talk. They were not on their phones. I absolutely loved it.”
The evening was presented by the town to give a professional skateboard park designer input from the kids themselves on what features they wanted to see in a new park. In March, town council agreed to retain the services of Calgary's New Line Skateparks to design a park concept, which would replace the current antiquated one on 50 Street near Napoleon Lake. The total cost could be as high as $500,000, which will have to be offset by a major fundraising campaign led by the town's service groups.
“This one will be completely unique. We want to tell the story of Innisfail and make sure we have a lot of signature elements that make this park distinct, and a destination within the network of facilities that is emerging across Alberta,” said Trevor Morgan, vice-president of New Line Skateparks, who gave a 75-minute presentation. He emphasized today's design of skateparks has morphed into “art mixed with athleticism”; facilities meticulously landscaped and shaped to become essential urban gathering places for the entire community.
“There was a lot of diverse ideas, even on the signature element and in telling the story of Innisfail there were creative ideas, ranging from the stagecoach, the railway history with Innisfail being a stopover on the Trans-Canada route, and the Daines Rodeo. Lots of great ideas.”
Following his presentation, he asked suggestions from skateboarders and BMX riders on terrain styles, as well as park elements and transition features needed for tricks, like ledges, rails, stairs, gaps, hips, banks, curbs and rail slides.
“They (New Line) know what they are talking about, which is good to see. I would like to see a great skatepark that I could go to every day and have fun,” said skateboarder Declan Jensen, who like many of the young at the workshop was pleasantly surprised at the turnout.
“It is really awesome to see so many people I know from the community coming out and supporting something that is really a big deal for the youth of Innisfail,” said skateboarder Jaegar Hartwig.
Morgan said his company will take Innisfail's input and go to work over the next six to eight weeks to create a concept design, which will be brought back for additional comment. New Line will then refine the final concept.
In the meantime, fundraising for the new park began in the evening with an elated Coun. Doug Bos pledging $500 for the new project. The Innisfail Kinsmen are taking the fundraising lead, with help from the Kinette Club of Innisfail, the Innisfail Lions Club, the Rotary Club of Innisfail and the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion.
Russ Klemmer, parks and playgrounds director for the local Kinsmen, said proceeds from their upcoming charity auction and other events will now be driven more to the skateboard park project.
“I hope this generates volunteerism as well,” said Klemmer.
Mayor Brian Spiller, who also attended the workshop, said it's possible one of the service groups could apply for a provincial community recreational grant for as much as $125,000, as long as it does not exceed 50 per cent of the project cost.
“If we are building a project for between $400,000 and $500,000 then $125,000 would only be 25 per cent, so hopefully we could get it all,” said Spiller. “That would be a nice big boost and I'm sure myself and the councillors would kick in some what the service groups can't come up with, and the kids are limited on what they can fund. But showing any initiative will help us out.”
Coun. Patt Churchill
"This shows they (skateboarders) are very passionate to show up here, and through the whole presentation they didn't talk. They were not on their phones. I absolutely loved it."
