The Drayton Skatepark Committee presented a proposal for a $100,000 facility in the village and is recommending a Riverside Park location.
Committee members Joanne Brown and Dahl Atin attended the Sept. 24 council meeting to update council on plans for the facility.
The committee explained they have researched skate park sizes, materials, structures and contractors and selected a preferred location.
The committee has also considered safety issues, maintenance, insurance and the cost to build and fund the facility.
“Although we may have a lot of fundraising to accomplish to make this a viable project, we are confident that the community is behind us and that the time is right for this skate park to become a reality in 2014,” said Brown.
The bulk of the cost would be an estimated $45,000 to $55,000 for excavation and pouring of a 82- by 98-foot concrete slab, with a further $35,000 estimated for ramp structures, $2,000 to create a “Wall of Recognition” for donors, and $1,000 for signs.
Additional costs could include benches and lighting, the committee members noted in their proposal.
The committee has raised nearly $10,000 in cash and pledges and is hoping to eventually raise enough to qualify for funding through the municipality’s 50/50 funding program.
The group has also applied to the Aviva Community Fund and could receive anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000 if successful.
The committee pointed out the facility is “urgently” needed to replace an existing “do-it-yourself” facility utilizing home-made ramps set up in a turnaround near ABC Park in the southeast corner of the village.
Brown pointed out the existing facility has been there for about four years, despite being dismantled twice, “proving the interest and determination of our youth to have a skate park.”
The committee points out the existing facility, located on township property, “is in need of repair and is unsafe – a liability to the township.”
“The popularity of skateboarding is growing,” said Brown.
“Many small communities are providing skate parks for their youth. If one is not provided, the youth will find less appropriate places to practice their skills.”
Potential locations
Atin reported the committee had researched three potential locations: ABC Park, the PMD arena parking lot and Riverside Park.
Although all locations presented advantages and disadvantages, the committee found Riverside Park to be preferable.
“We looked at all kinds of locations and to be perfectly frank about it, there are no perfect locations,” noted Mapleton public works director Larry Lynch.
The prime disadvantage of the arena location is that it is far from core residential areas.
“None of the youths would like it there,” the committee noted in their report.
The ABC Park location was not popular with homeowners, who would essentially have the park in their backyards.
While Riverside Park was considered too far to walk to by parents of young children, the committee noted skaters from all locations would easily reach the park.
Lynch pointed out it would have to be determined if a skate park would be compatible with tentative plans to create a second soccer field at Riverside Park.
Council instructed Lynch to conduct further investigation and report back on potential locations.
To view the complete proposal for the Drayton Skate park go to prezi.com/b_g4kvmx_gra/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy.
To support the committees application to the Aviva Community Fund go to avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/afc168.
