Lacombe skateboarders and BMXers are only months away from having a tailor-made venue for their grinds, ollies or tailwhips.
Work began this week on a new$545,000 skatepark, a facility long sought by the city’s youth. It is the culmination of years of lobbying and fundraising by dedicated boosters.
“They’re pretty pumped, that’s for sure,” said City of Lacombe recreation manager Sandi Stewart this week following an official sod-turning ceremony.
Construction will take about three months. If the weather co-operates, local skateboarders may get some time in this fall before the winter hits.
However, the official opening ceremony won’t take place until next spring.
The skatepark’s design promises to be a big draw for local skateboarders, inline skaters and BMX riders. The 12,500-square-foot skatepark features custom concrete ledges, rails, stairs, hips, banks, gaps and a boomerang-shaped bowl.
New Line Skateparks, a Maple Ridge, B.C., company that has built more than 100 skateparks around the world, including parks in Olds and Ponoka, has designed the facility based on local input.
Lacombe’s facility features a pair of unique features. The ‘Flat-Iron Building’ manual pad and ‘Blacksmith Shop’ pocket are meant to provide marquee features while paying homage to Lacombe’s history.
Future phases of the project will include lighting, a band shell and basketball court.
Skatepark boosters have raised about $330,000 for the project through grants and donations from the province, the City of Lacombe, Lacombe County, service clubs, individuals and companies.
In June, the project got a big boost from the city when it agreed to loan the skatepark committee $215,000 so construction could get started this year. An acre of land in Michener Park had already been donated by the city, which previously provided $120,000 over three years for design work.
The city has also agreed to in-kind donations, which will be used for landscaping.
Skatepark committee treasurer Mark Visscher said fundraising efforts are now aimed at paying off the city loan. Local businesses will be approached to donate to the project. Donors’ names and company logos will be listed at the skatepark.
The community has gotten solidly behind the project.
“We’ve done well. It’s really starting to come together.”
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com