Township council has agreed to review the location of a proposed skate park in the village of Drayton.
On April 22 council approved locating the facility on the parking lot off John Street at Kinsmen Park in Drayton, despite a petition from area residents objecting to the location.
At the May 13 meeting, council received a letter from neighbourhood resident Penny Francis, objecting to the John Street location.
Francis objected to what she perceived as a lack of public input into the site selection.
In her letter, she stated an April 10 public meeting hosted by the Drayton Skatepark Committee “unfortunately, was not a forum for an open discussion, but rather a presentation to the community.”
Francis stated the meeting was “well thought out and informative, and questions were asked by residents.” However, she noted, only one member of council, Neil Driscoll, was present.
“There has been no other site with as much public opposition as the John Street site, yet it was still selected,” stated Francis.
At the April 22 meeting, she said, “Councillor (Andy) Knetsch declared a conflict of interest and left the chamber, councillor Driscoll was against, councillor (Jim) Curry for, and councillor (Mike) Downey seemed more concerned with getting the issue resolved and off the table. Councillor Downey voted for, and the John Street site was accepted. Council did not listen.”
In her letter, Francis also raised concerns about the composition of a subcommittee formed to consider potential locations.
“Why was councillor Knetsch not replaced on the subcommittee when he withdrew due to a conflict of interest stemming from his proximity to the proposed John St. location? Why did councillor Curry not feel the same compunction to withdraw based on his proximity to the existing ABC Park location (which did not even make the short list)?” she asked.
Francis also asked why only municipally-owned sites were being considered.
“There are many vacant lots in the village that would be much closer to the areas the skate kids live in, with a much higher traffic rate. Perhaps a developer could be convinced to donate the land in a subdivision, where most of the kids live?”
Francis suggested council reopen the discussion including more public input and “with a much more impartial, transparent process.”
“We know there is an issue, we’d like to try to eliminate some of the issues that you have,” said Mayor Bruce Whale.
He revealed that council members had recently viewed the site while on a road tour of the area and realized a skate park on the selected location would take up most of the parking lot.
“Then we’d have to look at another parking lot,” he said.
He suggested council look at different locations within the Kinsmen Park which would be about 300 metres further away from homes in the area.
“It’s been suggested the agricultural society might be willing to look at (allowing the skate park on) some area between the old arena and the ball diamond – or the old trees and the fence line,” said Whale, noting input from the Grand River Conservation Authority would be required for use of those alternative sites.
“I’m just wondering if council would be willing to go down and review these two different sites,” said Whale.
Driscoll suggested council also reconsider placing the facility at Riverside Park, a location dismissed earlier in the process, partly due to concerns a skate park would take up land that would eventually be needed for a second soccer pitch.
“I’ve talked to the soccer association – they have no problem with it,” said Driscoll, noting the site could accommodate both a skate park and an additional soccer pitch if properly configured.
However Curry pointed out there are other issues with the site, including “the safety of children getting there,” and the more secluded nature of Riverside Park.
Whale noted council has made a decision that it supports a skateboard park.
“If we can do some fine tuning on location, that’s what I’d like to see happen,” he said.
“We do have to select a site very soon,” said CAO Patty Sinnamon, adding the committee is facing a deadline to apply to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for project funding.
“If we can make everybody happy, that would be our goal,” said Driscoll.
