Pumped-up possibilities
Provincial funding coming for skate park in Westville, other rec sites
“It’s something different for that age range that’s not usually targeted. We’re excited to give them a space to be active.” Clare Steele, Westville Recreation
Westville is one step closer to having a skate park thanks to a contribution from the provincial government. Through the Recreation Facility Development Program, the town will receive $17,500 for a pump track. “We’re really excited to have an area for people to come and do outdoor recreation,” said Clare Steele of Westville Recreation, noting that it will appeal to a wide age range. “It’s something different for that age range that’s not usually targeted. We’re excited to give them a space to be active.” Last summer, Canadian Ramp Company brought a demonstration pump track to Victoria Park, where children and teens had the opportunity to try it out on scooters, skateboards and BMX bikes. “It was a huge success. We had a great draw that day and were reassured that it was something that would get used.” Steele said Westville will purchase the same unit. She said the project will cost about $55,000, including installation, and that together with the provincial funding, about half of that amount has been raised. “We still have some fundraising to do.” Once all of the funding is in place, the pump track will be set up in Victoria Park. Steele said no date has been set, but it likely won’t happen this summer. A pump track involves going around without pedalling or pushing, using a pumping motion to go over the bumps and gain speed. A group of teens in Westville has been working toward establishing a skate and BMX park for several years, and has held several fundraisers to help reach their goal of having a safe place for teens to hang out and practise their skills. The skate park committee’s proposal was approved by the town council in 2014.
The Westville pump track is one of eight projects in the Highland region announced by the provincial government late last week, which will support community and physical activity for Nova Scotians. The projects will receive grants totalling more than $200,000, through the Recreation Facility Development Program, with the provincial government investing a total of $1.8 million for 60 new and upgraded facilities across the province. Two other Pictou County projects received funding as well – the Town of Stellarton for ball field upgrades, and the Pictou County Trails Association for a section of the Jitney Trail. Stellarton received $12,000 for improvements to the Evansville and Rick Crowe Memorial ball fields, which are both located in the Evansville area of the town. Recreation director Paul Corbin said the total cost of the project is about $43,000 “to do work to the fields and parking lot to sustain the lob ball association.” He said crusher dust that posed a safety concern on the infields is being replaced with new dirt. Work finished up on the Evansville field on Monday night, with the Rick Crowe field upgrades expected to be complete before next week. The Jitney Trail is 38 km long, built along a former railway line. Starting on the Pictou waterfront, the multi-use trail for walking, running, horse-back riding, cycling, ATVs and snowmobiles goes from the Shiretown to Oxford. The Pictou County Trails Association received $41,500 for Phase 4 of the trail. This section starts at the Meadowville Station Road and ends at Roger Siding, near River John. PCTA president Clifford MacDonald said the work involves ditching, bush cutting, placing gravel and installing culverts. “Whatever needs to be done on the trail to bring it up to standards,” he said. While the trail is already built and useable, he said it needs improving, and he’s pleased with the funding his group received.