Many taxpayers may squirm and even be angry town council is moving towards an expenditure of more than $1 million to make the long anticipated new skatepark a reality.
After all, this is a marked departure from the previous council that operated with a mantra of tight fiscal prudence, and one that would have undoubtedly adopted a firm stance that a million-dollar skatepark project, with all the bells and whistles, is a pie in the sky notion during a time when austerity measures are paramount.
If fundraising monies and provincial grants don't come through in 2019 as hoped, which is not a far-fetched possibility, the town and taxpayers could be left on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
But this is a new council, one that has not even finished its first year of a four-year mandate. Mayor Jim Romane, the driving force behind the Downtown Revitalization Project less than a decade ago, is determined to kick-start the momentum of that progressive vision.
To be fair, it was Romane's predecessor Brian Spiller who was the strongest voice at the start and beyond to build a skatepark for Innisfail's youth. But he also noted the facility would be one that would be fiscally responsible for taxpayers as ongoing maintenance costs would be nowhere near as high as they are for other local recreational facilities, like the Arena.
Romane, however, is a bit of a beautiful dreamer and he is aiming high. He wants not only the best for local youth but also for families and seniors. The emerging evidence from council on Aug. 13 is showing he might be on to something, perhaps towards Innisfail's first real community gathering place, a critically important need for this community.
The horseshoe pits will be moved south behind the aquatic centre, opening up extra space for a slightly larger new skatepark. Already there are ideas for new landscaping, picnic tables, and most importantly, space for people to mingle -- young and old -- to take in the excited and joyful sounds of kids having fun, trading stories and community news, or just relaxing on a gorgeous summer day. Maybe sometime in the future someone will think of an amenity to add for the winter, a small skating rink or maybe a bonfire zone.
Yes, it's all a bit of a risk, but a beau risque at that.
Johnnie Bachusky is the editor of the Innisfail Province.
