An effort to develop a park where Lacombe’s skateboarders practise their ollies and grinds is gathering speed.
The town has donated an acre of land in Michener Park and set aside $125,000 to help develop a space for skateboarders and BMX bike riders to fine-tune their tricks.
An invigorated skateboard committee has now taken up the challenge to find an additional $375,000 to build the facility in time for a fall 2011 opening.
Local businesswoman and committee member Kim Berube said the community is getting behind the project.
“There is a pretty solid, dedicated skateboard committee and a significant number of youths, who have been gung ho from the beginning of course and really are super-stoked to be progressing.”
The project got a lift recently when New Line Skateparks, a Maple Ridge, B.C., company that has built more than 100 skateparks in North and South America and Europe, was contracted to design and build a version for Lacombe.
In Alberta, the company has built 16 skateparks, including the one in Ponoka. Next month, New Line representatives plan to come to Lacombe to get a sense of what local skateboarders want in their park.
“Once they are finished with that information, they take it away and then they send us a couple of designs and concepts of what the park could look like.
“They’re really prepared to work with the committee to get what we want, so that’s really great.”
Berube said the community is looking at more than just a skatepark.
“It’s a skate plaza. The whole point is it will be a destination point for families. It’s going to be a multi-use park, so it will be for bikes as well as skateboards.”
There will also be green space for families to enjoy. “It’s going to be pretty exceptional.”
Fundraising efforts have begun. Volunteers raised $500 last weekend on a litter cleanup and a bottle drive is set for May 29. Volunteers will pick up bottles within a 20-km radius of the town.
Other events planned include a youth dance on the last day of school on June 28 hosted by Red Deer radio station 101.3 FM The Craze.
Individual, corporate and service club donations will also be sought and government grants pursued.
For information on the bottle drive, call 403-782-0775. Information on the skatepark and fundraising events can be found at www.lacombeskateboarding.ca
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com