Spring construction for concrete skateboard park, pump track….
SANDRA M STANWAY
Brooks Bulletin
During last week’s city committee meeting councillors gave the final OK for the construction of the new concrete skateboard and pump track park.
The $1.5 million park construction will begin in the spring.
The 2007 park on Sutherland Drive will be removed and the new one will go on the same property with the expectation that it will be finished in August or September.
Since January Newline Skateparks representatives have met with the public to understand what users want in a facility.
“We came away with a set of guiding principles not only for the terrain styles that we wanted to see in the park but also integration into the rest of the park area that we’re developing so it becomes not only a great skate park but also a successful public space,” said Trevor Morgan of Newline Skateparks.
The company developed a park with three main concepts — a pump track, a street area (stairs and ledges) and a bowl.
Following three public meetings and an online survey, the company used the feedback to come up with the final concept.
“What we wanted to make sure we were doing was lots of opportunity for beginners right through to advanced level riders, open space for staging and quality as well as quantity – making sure that whatever we did we did really well,” he said.
There will also be plenty of areas to sit and watch as well as extensions for future pathways to the existing washrooms, parking and a future sport court.
The park will include signature elements of Brooks including yellow and blue, agricultural patterning and a design depicting the Brooks Aqueduct. The final theme to be worked on is the diversity of Brooks and including that in the park.
The city will be responsible for other features of the park including re-opening the washrooms, which were closed about a decade ago due to ongoing vandalism, adding a sport court and a parking lot.
The skateboard park is being replaced because it has settled over the years and has cracked.
“Understanding that we were redeveloping over a facility that had those issues we had a very thorough geotechnical analysis,” said Morgan.
He said he cannot speak to the reasons why the current skateboard park has cracked.
“The conclusion of the geotechnical engineer, the civil engineer and structural engineers that we’re all working with is that this site can be successfully developed and will not have that issue.”
Mayor John Petrie said any additional amenities including reopening the washroom and building a parking lot will be likely discussed during the budget meeting.
“The parking lot I think is important especially because you’re coming off Sutherland Drive and you need places to park. I think we have to discuss it at our budget meeting,” he said.
