West Shore skateboarders may soon have to find a new place to ollie and grind, with the sale of the Belmont secondary property threatening the future of the areaB次元官网网址檚 only publicly funded and maintained skatepark.
The sale of the property by School District 62 is expected to be finalized by the end of this month and West Shore Parks and RecreationB次元官网网址檚 lease with the district for the skatepark land expires March 27. At present there is no plan in place to renew the lease.
The district is leasing back the land until at least June 2015. Parks and recreation board chair Rob Martin said either a new deal will have to be met or the park will have to be ripped out. The two sides are working with to find a way to leave the skatepark where it is for now.
B次元官网网址淚t could work out, but by the same token, if the new owners choose not to renew the lease, even from a temporary standpoint, weB次元官网网址檒l have to remove the park,B次元官网网址� Martin said. B次元官网网址淥nce the deal goes through, we have to either get a new lease immediately or we have to shut the park down.B次元官网网址�
Sidestep Skate School owner Debbie Qayum said the loss of the skateboard park would be devastating to the community which has grown around it. Sidestep hosts a number of events at the park and teaches lessons there in the summer.
B次元官网网址淲e need something out here. Myself, IB次元官网网址檝e had over 800 people through my facility, so there is a huge demand,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚t is very well used.B次元官网网址�
Qayum is encouraging those who use the park to stand up for it and approach the school board and the City of Langford to ask that it remain where it is, at least for this summer.
B次元官网网址淏e more proactive, rather than reactive. ThatB次元官网网址檚 basically the message that IB次元官网网址檝e given them,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e hoping something happens by the end month.B次元官网网址�
Merrick Orr is a talented young skateboarder from Sooke who uses the Langford park almost daily. He said if they take away the skatepark itB次元官网网址檚 going to leave a lot of young people without a place to go when not at school.
B次元官网网址淚t sucks that theyB次元官网网址檙e moving it, itB次元官网网址檚 awesome that itB次元官网网址檚 here,B次元官网网址� Orr said.
B次元官网网址淭here are so many people that come here every day and have so much fun here.B次元官网网址�
In the meantime West Shore Parks and Recreation is turning its attention to how and where to build a new skatepark. Even if the current facilityB次元官网网址檚 life is extended, it will eventually have to be removed as the land is developed.
To address that situation, a committee has been struck to tackle finding a home for the park and coming up with the money to build it.
B次元官网网址淲e are 100-per-cent supportive of a skateboard park in the Western Communities,B次元官网网址� Martin said. B次元官网网址淲e have to find a place thatB次元官网网址檚 easily accessible to youth, but also very visible.B次元官网网址�
He estimates a new park will cost between $250,000 and $500,000, enough to build a modern, module-style park with movable components. West Shore Parks and Recreation will be looking to the private sector for fundraising opportunities and donated labour.
kwells@goldstreamgazette.com
