Fort Macleod youth excited about new skate park | Fort Macleod GazetteFort Macleod Gazette

2022-06-15 13:12:01 By : Mr. jia zhong

Frank McTighe, MACLEOD GAZETTE EDITOR | Posted on June 08 2022

Rylan Carter (left) and Rylan Baxter (center) were among the people who attended an open house May 31 for the new skate park in Centennial park.

Fort Macleod’s new skate park is creating excitement among the people who use it.

Young people attending an open house May 31 at the G.R. Davis Administration Building were excited to view a variety of options on display.

“I feel like it would be a big deal for some of us kids who are getting older,” 14-year-old Rylan Carter said. “In this town we have lots of parks for younger kids and so I feel like it would be nice for a lot of the kids to get into skateboarding and scootering.”

“I know a lot of people who would use it.”

The Town of Fort Macleod held an open house to showcase potential features in a new skate park in Centennial Park.

Display boards were set up in council chambers and open house guests were asked to rank the pieces in terms of their priorities.

The various designs contained the elements of a skate park, including quarter, half and full pipes, ramps and decks.

The park designs ranged in size from 3,000 sq. ft. to 5,270 sq. ft.

Rylan Baxter, a 14-year-old fan of scooters, said there has been a void in Fort Macleod since the old skate park was demolished.

“When they took out the first park I wasn’t a happy camper,” Rylan Baxter said. “I was able to go there and enjoy some time with my friends.”

The two Rylans were excited about the possibilities presented during the open house.

“There are a lot of options that they’ve given us,” said Rylan Carter, who is a skateboarder. “A skate park like this, in a small town, I definitely feel like you’re going to attract attention.”

Rylan Baxter was also excited about the possibilities for a skate park presented at the open house.

“I would be so happy if we got another skate park,” he said, adding the facility would be well-used. “I’d probably be there every day, as much as I could.”

Both youths indicated they were willing to be hands-on in development of a skate park, assisting with promotion and fund-raising if possible.

Town of Fort Macleod director of operations Adrian Pedro said the input provided at the open house and at an earlier gathering of young people is valuable.

“At this point we’re going to compile some feedback and work on a potential design,” Pedro explained.

That potential design will be presented to town council at its meeting Monday, June 13.

Pedro said the open house was proving worthwhile as young people who would use the park offer their suggestions.

“They’re really making us think of things that we wouldn’t have thought of in terms of the design,” Pedro said. “There’s been a good range of experience — we’re getting the little kids, older, more experienced kids.”

The young people are excited the park will be concrete, rather than having metal features like the old one.

Liisa Gillingham, the town’s director of community and protective services, said young people have been unanimous in their desire to see a new skate park built.

“They’re happy to have something back in place that’s even better,” Gillingham said.

Gillingham said some of the young people who attended the open houses are willing to undertake fund-raising.

Council had earlier approved a $160,000 budget for the skate park.

“If there’s a need to supplement council’s budget with fund-raising they have offered to do some fund-raising and approach some of the service clubs in town to see if they would be willing to donate,” Gillingham said.

Pedro said once council approves a design, construction could begin in August.

“It will be approximately one month for construction, so it should be open in September,” Pedro said.

“The intent of this is to get what features they want and then just design it for the space that we have,” Pedro said.

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