Teacher Andrew Shostak and three of his students from Kelly Creek Community School attended City of Powell River committee of the whole meeting last week to push through plans for a bike skills and skateboard park.
This is the third time the park has been slated for discussion at the meeting, and optimism seemed present to all parties concerned. The conversation around funding, which had proven to be a sticking point in former conversations, had now moved beyond cautious optimism as evidenced by the broad smiles on the students’ faces upon departure.
Bill Reid, director of parks, recreation and culture, presented a report suggesting an application be made to the Powell River Community Forest board in support of funding the skills bike and skateboard park. He said that the board maintains a vigorous interest in the opportunity to fund park construction in its entirety, given, what Reid called, an incredible year for their investment portfolio.
The new park would be located where the current skateboard park is situated along the north side of Powell River Recreation Complex. The current park was constructed after city council in 1997 approved the creation of the park at no expense to the city. It has seen a lot of use over the last 17 years, but needs to be replaced to meet current safety standards.
The city consulted with Jim Barnum of Spectrum Sports in the fall 2013 who provided an overview of park design through to finished product, said Reid in his report.
Powell River Cycling Association has offered to help coordinate and facilitate the bike skills park, which would be located adjacent to the skateboard park.
The addition of the bike skills park to the skateboard park is expected to enhance the site as a destination park, he added.
Shostak said he and his students plan to pack the council chambers with young cyclists at the next council meeting to demonstrate what he calls overwhelming support for the bike skills and skateboard park. He said he took his students to the committee of the whole meeting so that they could experience the process—what happens behind the scenes—and how a decision like this unfolds. “I really want these kids to be part of the process,” Shostak said.
He added that he has applied for various grants for funding but none have been successful, and that there have been barriers to getting support from council and to trying other avenues. He had spoken to Greg Hemphill, president of community forest, previously and Hemphill had said the board was interested in supporting the venture but needed to ensure council was in agreement.
At the committee of the whole meeting, response was favourable. Only councillor Debbie Dee raised concern, suggesting alternate funding sources be looked into. “This project would use up a good portion of the community forest budget,” she said.
The discussion ended on a positive note from councillor Jim Palm. He issued an edict pointing out that the bike park was an integral component to the recreation complex grounds and fit well within a number of other primary initiatives including boosting use of the complex, encouraging and retaining youth-oriented activities in Powell River, and creating a healthy, sustainable community. “Spread the word,” Palm said to the students.
Staff was directed to submit an application to the community forest for design/build of the park to be located at the recreation complex at a cost not to exceed $550,000.
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