The Career Assistance Network is trying to take on proposal development for a Penhold skateboard park.
Serena King, a Penhold resident and an employment consultant with the Career Assistance Network in Red Deer, spoke to council during their meeting on March 12 about taking on the project.
"We would like to create a youth initiative," King said. She explained the Career Assistance Network would like to put together a proposal to try and get grants for the project and then undertake the planning of the park, which would see youth between 15 and 30 be employed in the process.
King asked councillors for a letter of support so a grant submission can be made to get the funds for the project.
"We would just like the partnership," King said.
The Penhold Optimist Club is fundraising for the skate park but not the planning.
"I think it will be all encompassing Ö an entire community getting together," King said of the process. "It's community partnerships at work."
The skate park project was picked so they can "create something that's lasting," King said.
King said while there are some blueprints from a previous community attempt to get a skate park funded, the community would be consulted about design.
"I need the input from the town, community, school division," King said.
Coun. Heather Klein asked if council would have a chance for input on design, voicing a concern about using wood.
"It would be concrete," King said.
Mayor Dennis Cooper asked if there would be any financial commitment required from town council. King said the town would be asked to provide land for the project and future maintenance "so that it's a lasting product."
King suggested council consider putting the skate park in an open and well-utilized area.
In a later interview, King said the proposal will be done first to make sure they have the funds to employ people for the project.
People who were employed by the Penhold youth initiative would assist in planning the project itself.
King said the Career Assistance Network is submitting a proposal for a federal grant by April 9. Since it is unsure when the grant announcements will be made, King said the timeline for the project going forward is uncertain.
Employment would be open to individuals from Penhold and the surrounding areas that fit the criteria, King said.
During the council meeting, councillors waited until King left before discussing and passing motions to give her a letter of support and to have administration come up with potential skate park sites in Penhold.
"I don't want us to assume a backseat position on this," Cooper said.
All of council was in favour of providing a letter of support and starting to consider sites for the park.
