Recent History – 2003
September 10, 2003 – By Gary Rusak, Daily News Staff
A Dawson Creek skate park is well on its way to fruition after Tuesday night’s announcement from Rotary member John Kurjata that the charity organization will see the project through.
“We are here to back you up,” he told the Mile 0 Skateboard Club at a meeting at the Kiwanis Performing Arts Centre. “We want to make sure the kids have a place to go.”
The announcement was a great boost to the club, which has been searching for a major supporter for some time.
“Now we are one step closer to making this a reality,” said Const. Craig Douglass, a member of the club’s board of directors.
“This is very necessary for Dawson Creek kids. They need a place to go and practice their skills. It is really going to put us on the map as far as skate parks go.”
Details are yet to be finalized but what is known is that the site is a piece of land between the O’Brien centre and the curling rink. Upon completion, the park will be 1,400 square feet with a full compliment of ramps and rails. The design of the park will be revealed when the engineers make a presentation to the club sometime next month.
The park will cost an estimated $300,000. According to Douglass, the club has raised approximately $50,000 with an additional $100,000 that was allocated by the city.
A full-scale fundraising blitz will begin this fall in conjunction with Rotary’s Mega Lottery. The club is also hoping to secure “in kind” donations from various contractors and suppliers. Inland Concrete Ltd. has already committed to discounting some materials.
“It is nice to have Rotary there to fill in the blanks, if we need it,” Douglass said.
The club is hoping for a successful winter of fundraising so that ground can be broken by first thaw. If all goes according to plan skateboarders should have a permanent home in Dawson Creek by next summer.