New skateboard park could open soon
Summerland’s new skateboard park could open sooner than expected if the weather co-operates.
The new attraction on a corner of the Summerland Secondary School field is still awaiting some finishing touches, but that hasn’t stopped some eager skaters from testing it out.
“I know they’re not supposed to be in there, but I don’t think they’re creating any major problems at this time,” Coun. Marty Van Alphen told colleagues at Monday’s meeting.
Chief administrative officer Linda Tynan agreed that while the park itself wouldn’t be harmed from use, there would still be a liability risk to the district with the park open and no cautionary signage.
She added there’s technically no proper access to the park, either.
“When you open something, it’s more difficult, supposedly, to get in to finish the work and to finish the landscaping,” said Tynan, who noted it’s nonetheless a conversation council could have so long as liability issues are tackled.
But those concerns over liability kept council from agreeing to open the park before the builder, New Line Skateparks, can return to finish the job.
The company requires at least two consecutive days of 6 C weather for caulking to dry properly.
Until that time, fencing will remain up around the park to keep people out.
Council also agreed to add Van Alphen to the Skatepark Committee, which will investigate the possibility of naming rights and recognition for the Penny Lane Society, which provided $140,000 for the project.
The district chipped in $458,000 from federal gas tax grants, while another $9,000 came through private donations.