With renewed energy and enthusiasm, proponents of a new skateboard park for the West Shore are making their rounds to the five councils in hopes of garnering support at the municipal level.

The first presentation, to View Royal council last week, elicited positive comments from Mayor David Screech and his fellow councillors, winding up with an agreement to send a letter of support to West Shore Parks and Recreation and the other municipalities.

B次元官网网址淐ulturally, this isnB次元官网网址檛 the battle of skate park creation that happened in the early to mid-90s,B次元官网网址� said Westshore Skatepark Coalition spokesperson Jimmy Miller, a skater himself and a longtime advocate who once lobbied Victoria council to loosen skateboarding rules downtown, in an interview later.

B次元官网网址淪kateboarding B次元官网网址� is something that is ever present. We have people such as ourselves that are parents of future users, but also, grandparents are out there skateboarding.B次元官网网址�

With much of the mystery around skate park activities such as boarding, BMX biking and inline skating a thing of the past, he said, this campaign comes down to finding people keen on B次元官网网址渉elping this user group be facilitated, itB次元官网网址檚 as simple as that.B次元官网网址�

Miller said a recent progress update and information session, held for potential park users and other supporters, went well and elicited some new ideas. Part of the session saw attendees encouraged to write their dream vision for a new park on a large sheet of paper.

B次元官网网址淚 think when you gather people in a situation where there may not be hope, youB次元官网网址檙e battle-ready to pump up everybodyB次元官网网址檚 morale. But everybody had open ears, and although slightly deflated they were not defeated,B次元官网网址� he said of the Jan. 17 meeting. B次元官网网址淓verybody was ready to accept where weB次元官网网址檙e at now and move forward with the consultation with the municipalities.B次元官网网址�

The previous skate park off Jenkins Road on the Belmont secondary lands was removed some months ago. Its fate was confirmed not long after SobeyB次元官网网址檚 purchased the property from the Sooke School District.

While progress may appear to have been rather slow toward finding a new site, West Shore Parks and Recreation has been active in working with Miller and other skateboarders and advocates.

Addressing councils and securing land is one of the next steps in the process, he told View Royal council at their Jan. 19 meeting.

Coun. John Rogers encouraged Miller and his compatriots to bring their ideas to View RoyalB次元官网网址檚 parks master plan workshop, scheduled for Feb. 3. As well, he suggested that an area at Watkiss Way and West Burnside Road, near the archery range, might be a suitable location for a skate park.

Screech said West Shore Parks and Recreation in Colwood would be the most ideal from View RoyalB次元官网网址檚 perspective, since the Town is already paying into the organization.

Bobbi Neal, community development co-ordinator for West Shore Parks and Recreation, said a report would be created for the municipalities once the group has presented its plan to all of them.

Coun. Heidi Rast suggested the Town may be willing to donate toward a future skate park. She also questioned whether several smaller skate parks, each accommodating the varying skill levels, might be an answer to the land issue.

Miller pointed out that the skate community doesnB次元官网网址檛 necessarily separate people by skill level, but sounded open to the idea. He expanded on that concept later in an interview.

B次元官网网址淚t doesnB次元官网网址檛 have to be this humongous skate park meant to meet every single skill level and every type of obstacle dynamic,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淗ey, thatB次元官网网址檇 be great if we could, but financially thatB次元官网网址檚 (not necessarily feasible) B次元官网网址� Why not do little satellite skate parks in addition to more of a centralized hub? WeB次元官网网址檙e game for any type of idea.B次元官网网址�

Fellow park proponent and skater Daniel Opdendries echoed that sentiment.

B次元官网网址淩ight now we need to start with land,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淥nce we have land, I believe we can get the fundraising in gear,. We can look for municipal dollars and start applying for grants more readily, and we can get the community group fundraising money directed toward these projects as well.B次元官网网址�

editor@goldstreamgazette.com