A group of young people with leader Cliff Heffernan spoke to the Wellington North Recreation Committee and Arthur Arena Manger Tom Bowden on Thursday, Feb. 18 about the possibility of building a skateboard park near the arena.
Mayor Mike Broomhead, along with committee members Dennis Evans from Southgate, Wellington North Councillors Ross Chaulk and Bob Mason, who is also committee chair, heard what the young people and their parents had to say about the idea, as well as suggestions about where it could be located and what is needed.
Broomhead said it will be difficult to come up with a location as neighbours would have to be on-side. He said there is usually loud music involved in a skateboard park.
He said the group charged with building the new sports complex in Mount Forest visited 22 different arenas before a decision was made.
“Don’t reinvent the wheel,” Broomhead said. He suggested the group look around at various skateboard parks in the area before making any decisions.
He recommended the group have one person to speak with council to make recommendations and come up with a possible budget.
He said the recreation budget is already set for 2010, but suggested they get their numbers together quickly and council might be able to apply for a grant.
One of the young people who would like the skateboard park, Joey Walzak, is working on a website to create a petition asking for the park.
Heffernan said the skateboard park could also be used for other uses, such as BMX bikes, and pointed out the entire process, including the possible building, would be educational for the kids.
“The kids are taking ownership of the process,” he said.
The young people involved in asking and planning for the park range in age from 12 to 16, and he said some can use the work for their community hours for high school.
Evans said he was quite impressed with the number of people present for the meeting.