A modern concrete skatepark could keep boarders away from public property where they’re not welcome, help promote outdoor activity, bring tourists to the area and become a training ground for future Olympians, city councillors heard Monday night.
A trio of skateboarders and BMX enthusiasts - Mark Watson, Mike Best and Dylan Court – who call themselves The Skateparkers, made a plea for municipal assistance in a bid to help them realize their dream of a new facility in the Sunshine City.
“We respectfully request council’s support to design and build a modern concrete skatepark in the City of Orillia,” Watson said at city hall Monday night. “Specifically, we are asking that council work with our group to designate a site for the development and support the initiative with fundraising assistance (our group is committed to playing an active role in fundraising by applying for grants and soliciting funding support from individual and corporate community members).”
Watson and his partners made an educational and dynamic presentation to council, extolling the virtues of such a facility and providing examples of other municipalities that have developed similar projects.
Such a facility would not come cheap. The trio estimate a new park would cost about $51-56 per square foot. They are looking at a 9-11,000-square foot facility that would have a price tag of $500,000 to $750,000.
But it would be a worthwhile investment, they say.
“The lack of an up-to-date public facility forces children and youth who desire to participate in these activities (skateboarding, etc.) to seek unsanctioned and often dangerous terrain in public spaces throughout the city,” Court explained, noting that often means skateboarders can be found on downtown streets, parking lots, and in front of local businesses.
He noted many enthusiasts “travel to other communities in Ontario who have chosen to create modern concrete skateparks. We can learn from the experience of similar communities in our region and reap the social and economic benefits of a well-developed public concrete skatepark.”
Watson also noted skateboarding has officially been sanctioned as an Olympic sport.
“Skateboarding has been added to the 2020 Olympic Games, which is quite an achievement for our sport,” he said. “We would see community skateparks such as what we’re proposing to be training grounds for future athletes. Just imagine a skateboarder representing Canada and Orillia at the Olympics.”
Best also stressed such a facility would be inclusive and, once built, requires little investment. “It’s sustainable, long-term infrastructure that can last for 30 years and is almost maintenance-free,” he said.
The trio have already had discussions with the owners of Orillia’s indoor skate facility; they are reportedly enthusiastic about the plan.
While they welcome the opportunity to begin fundraising, they say it would be futile – for now. They need to have a commitment from the city, a potential site and a timeframe in mind before they can canvas service groups and businesses for support, they said.
As council nears the end of its four-year term, they could not provide that. However, most councillors did express support of the idea.
Coun. Mason Ainsworth said it was a “phenomenal” project and Coun. Pat Hehn said it was a “really neat idea.”
In response to questions about potential locations for a skatepark, Court said several sites have already been scouted. He said the new Foundry Park recreation centre property at 255 West Street, Hillcrest Park and Victoria Park would be ideal locations.
Orillia Mayor Steve Clarke said such a facility could be considered as part of a “park master plan” being considered for Foundry Park.
In the end, council voted to ask city staff to consider the site and funding support as part of the design plan for Foundry Park or another location in the city.
