The Regional District of Nanaimo is moving ahead with plans to construct a skate park at Huxley Community Park on Gabriola Island.
The skate park, a park entrance and parking lot represent the second phase of improvements in the Huxley Community Park master plan. The RDN board gave unanimous approval to a conceptual plan for the skatepark and $75,000 of Gabriola Island-area (Area B) community works fund (gas tax) money for construction drawings at its May regular meeting. The conceptual plan will be used for the construction drawings.
The cost of the skate park will be determined after completion of construction drawings and an RDN staff report, anticipates the park being completed by 2020, although Howard Houle, Area B director, hopes to break ground by fall of 2019 or spring 2020 at the latest.
“We need to do our drawings up to 80 per cent and then we can apply for variance on the side yard and then once we get the variance, then we can finish the plan off and it goes to tender,” said Houle.
According to the staff report, the Gabriola community will chip in a maximum of $72,000 for construction, with the remainder coming from gas tax money and applications will be made for relevant governmental grants.
Houle said Gabriola Island lacks facilities for youths and a park for novice skateboarders is envisioned.
“We’re building a park for medium level and beginners and if you need to go higher then there are lots of facilities elsewhere, but it’s just to get those people started and give them some place to go,” said Houle.
Houle said the community has organized and is raising money for the project.
reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
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