Nanaimo residents will get a status update on a skateboard and BMX park project in the Harewood area on Thursday (March 16).
An open house is planned for John Barsby Secondary School between 6:30-8 p.m., and according to Rob Lawrance, acting park planner for the City of Nanaimo, detailed drawings on the park have been completed.
“This has been on the books and looked at for a few years – actually 2012 – but we’re at a point now were we’ve got the detailed drawings and we want to move on to the next step about finalizing where the funding can be defined in the budget, but also we want to raise more awareness in the community to get some interests on the fundraising side as well.”
According to Peggy Lake, vice-president of the Harewood Neighbourhood Association, the project is priced at about $600,000.
Lawrance said actual costing will be forthcoming.
“It’s a variety of different skateboarding features and it’s partly been designed by the skateboard community with some input from the Harewood Neighbourhood Association as well,” said Lawrance.
He said the project will include a number of features, such as a “kidney-shaped” bowl and a variety of rails.
“I think part of the design was really trying to mimic a stream or the Chase River, so there’s kind of a meandering rail system and the idea was to have a more decorative images or artwork in the concrete as well,” said Lawrance.
Lake said her group has raised about $60,000 for the project and has also applied for grants.
She is hoping others can contribute, too.
“This is a community project that requires community involvement … the kids need to step up and help with fundraising and things like that to help get this park built,” said Lake.