Members of the Sundre Skate Park Society are currently seeking companies to design drawings for Phase 2 of the park, and are hoping to have it completed this spring.
“We hope to complete this phase of construction this spring and tie up all outstanding loose ends in preparation for a grand opening for either this summer or early fall,” said Paul Shippy, co-chairperson of the society's committee.
The park, located on 2nd Avenue, has become quite popular. He believes the addition will decrease the risk of injuries at the park and accommodate skaters at a beginner's level.
The addition is going to be roughly 30 feet by 40 feet, which is about a third of the current size of the park. It will be added onto the north side, in the centre.
The committee was originally hoping to have the addition completed by September of 2013, but is now aiming for this spring.
Approximately $25,000 is available for the addition. The money is left over from fundraising efforts to build the park in 2012.
Also, community members donated to the society after they saw the skate park built.
Some of the details that the society has been working on completing include designating a parking area with gravel pad and barriers, fencing the park, adding benches and complete signage.
When council approved Phase 2 of the skate park during the council meeting on June 17, 2013, they raised the issue of the need for a new development permit for the addition.
During the council meeting earlier this month on April 7, council authorized the committee to apply for a development permit for Phase 2 of the skate park. Council also waived the development permit and engineering review fees for the development permit application.
The development permit fees were also waived for Phase 1, which was just short of $300, and the $874.60 in engineering fees was paid through the town's engineering budget within planning and development.
Based on a construction value of $25,000, the development permit fees would be $280, according to town officials.
“Administration anticipates that the engineering review will be less than $1,500; however this is based on the quality of the drawings provided by the skate park committee,” reads a report submitted to council by Erin O'Neill, the town's manager of planning and development.
