PENHOLD - The Penhold Skatepark Committee recently received a boost with its fundraising efforts thanks to a donation from ATB Financial.
The donation comes as the committee has a set a timeline goal of 2018 to begin construction of the community's long-awaited skatepark.
Brenda Mahoney, president of the Penhold and District Optimist Club, which is spearheading the fundraising for the new park, said the project has already raised several thousand dollars in recent months and is moving forward, despite the slow progress.
“I really want to focus on fundraising within the community in the next year,” said Mahoney. “I'm very optimistic about it. I've got some high hopes and I've got some heavy-duty work ahead of me. I need lots of people on my team to help with this project.
“It has been slow but steady progress. I think the youth are really getting to the point where they really want to get it done,” she added.
Members from the Optimist Club, the skatepark committee and the local community gathered recently to receive a $500 donation for the project from ATB Financial.
“ATB Financial is a strong proponent of community giving, being a part of the community and supporting them in all their initiatives,” said Heather Kirkham, branch manager of ATB Financial in Innisfail. “We want to give back to our community.”
Kirkham encouraged other local and area businesses to step up and do the same.
“We happily put forward the challenge for any other businesses within the (Penhold) community and the outlying areas to support the Penhold Skatepark,” she added.
Mahoney noted the steps she and others will be putting forward in their fundraising efforts, including writing letters, visiting local businesses and other groups to secure needed funds.
“I'm hoping we can have a groundbreaking in the spring of 2018,” said Mahoney. “The majority of funds have to be raised by (the end of) 2017.
“We're going to focus on this, get lots of people involved, lots of help and really work hard on getting funds raised and everything set for the groundbreaking,” she added.
Penhold mayor Dennis Cooper said he was pleased to see such progress with fundraising and coordinating efforts and the continued support for the project.
“It's great news. The skatepark committee has been working very hard to raise money,” said Cooper. “We have the land, we're raising money and now the Optimists are going to be talking with businesses to try and help match the ($500) donation from ATB Financial.”
Cooper also noted that the town would step up its efforts to help with the skatepark project.
“The town is hoping to find some grants to help them with it, to move the skatepark forward,” said Cooper. “We want to try and bring everybody together to build a gathering place for our children. I think the youth in our town definitely need a skatepark.
“Hopefully we'll be able to continue the fundraising and move forward with the park as soon as possible,” added the mayor.
Brenda Mahoney
"It has been slow but steady progress. I think the youth are really getting to the point where they really want to get it done."
