A written inquiry from two Moorefield youths about the status of the proposed skate park in Drayton will become part of an application for an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant for the project.
In December, Maryborough Public School students Noah Schieck and Tyson Kuepfer sent a letter to Mapleton councillor Lori Woodham asking about the timeline for the project, for which council has approved a location in the Drayton Kinsmen Park, near the ball diamond and basketball court off John Street.
“We have been waiting and waiting for this skate park but lately we haven’t been hearing about this skate park. I am writing this letter to see when it is going up and when it will be finished, if it is going up and where is it going up?” the boys wrote in their letter, which also requested a blueprint for the park. The letter notes a new park would be an improvement on the current situation, with local youngsters utilizing a make-shift set of wooden ramps in a subdivision cul-de-sac.
“There is a homemade one and that one is fun, but if there is a cement one made by workers it would be even more fun! I think that it would be worth it because whenever you go there it is always crowded. We hope that you can send a letter back with all the information we need,” the letter continued.
The youths not only received a written response from CAO Patty Sinnamon, which included a copy of a draft blueprint for the park, they received an invitation to the Jan. 13 council meeting.
At the meeting, the boys were introduced by Woodham and presented with Township of Mapleton pins by Mayor Neil Driscoll. They were also asked if their letter could be included with the Trillium application, which Sinnamon said is slated for submission in early February.
In her letter, Sinnamon explained the Drayton Skatepark Committee continues to raise money towards the project, and currently has commitments from local businesses for about $20,000.
“The total cost of the project is estimated to be $100,000. We hope to share the balance of the funding with the Trillium Foundation. Construction on the skate park will commence once funding has been approved by the Trillium Foundation. Should our application not be approved, the skatepark committee will need to look at alternate funding such as fundraising events.”
At the meeting, Driscoll noted most of the youth involvement in the park has come from Drayton residents and he was pleased to see support from youths outside the village.
“Congratulations for stepping up,” he said.
