With word the Kiwanis skate park committee has begun making the big push for its new brick fundraiser campaign, in hopes of seeing a shovel in the ground this spring, Fort Frances Mayor Dan Onichuk said he’s definitely in favour of the project.
“I think it’s already off the ground. There’s a committee and a lot of volunteers behind it. Now, it’s just a matter of fundraising,” he noted Monday.
“It’s my understanding the calibre of the project is professional. And if that means attracting people here for events or competitions, then so be it,” Mayor Onichuk added, noting he’s always behind providing more for youths to do here.
Last summer, the skate park committee was hopeful it would get the go-ahead from the previous town council and begin building the skate park before the fall.
But the proposed location at Second Street East and Reid Avenue—adjacent to the Memorial Sports Centre—posed a few problems.
Because of a waterline dissecting the property, the committee had to move the proposed skate park south of that, where it would take up 35 parking spots which would have to be replaced.
In addition, because the skate park would be designated as a “structure,” town bylaws demand another 45 new parking spaces be built.
Kiwanian Steve Maki, chair of the skate park committee, said Friday he’s preparing a application for the committee of adjustment in hopes of waiving this designation, reasoning that not only does that area not need more parking spaces, but that most, if not all, traffic at a skate park will not be via a motor vehicle.
“If that was a hurdle then, it’s not a problem now,” pledged Mayor Onichuk.
“If there’s other things that need to be dealt with beyond that, that remains to be seen,” he added. “The new council hasn’t met regarding this issue before, but we do want to meet with the skate park committee in the near future.”
As reported in Monday’s Daily Bulletin, Maki—who first pitched the idea for a park for skateboarders and in-line skaters here about 16 months ago—said he’s hopeful he’ll finally see the project move forward.
With roughly $135,000 already raised, it now depends on getting about $125,000 more to make the skate park a reality. And that’s where the committee’s newest fundraiser—a buy-a-brick campaign—comes in.
“We spoke to nine businesses and sold $15,000 worth of bricks—we’re off to a good start,” Maki said Friday.
“When all is said and done, I think we’re going to sell $100,000 worth of bricks,” he added as he showed off a number of bricks, including 20 that Holmlund Financial has purchased.
The bricks cost $100 each.
These bricks, which come in black or brown, will be used to pave a sitting section of the proposed 14,000 sq. ft. concrete park. This area won’t be ridden on, but will be an area with picnic tables where kids, or their parents and siblings, can hang out.
Unlike the “donor wall” the Riverside Foundation for Health Care uses in its fundraising, donors who buy multiple bricks could take up a block of space big enough to place a corporate or business logo on, noted Maki.
The more money a person puts into it, the more visible their name. The lettering on these bricks also can be in colour, if the donor so wishes.
“People can buy the bricks and if they can come up with the idea, the company can put those ideas on the bricks,” said Maki.
“You can make it elaborate as you want,” he added, noting a company in Winnipeg takes the design for the brick (whether it’s a name, graphic, or logo), inputs it to a computer, prints it out, cuts out the areas to appear on the brick(s), and then sandblasts it onto the brick.
“What better form of advertising,” remarked Maki. “We’re going to have our youth and their families around these bricks for at least the next 25 years.”
Having been promoting the idea of the skate park for almost 16 months, Maki said it looks like the project finally is becoming a reality.
“We are over halfway there. Now, it’s a matter of the community coming forward,” he stressed. “Let’s get the kids off the street and give them something to do.”
Those interested in buying bricks, or learning more about sponsoring the skate park project, can call Maki at 274-2875. If he’s not available, leave a message and he’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Maki stressed, as he has in the past, that properly-built skate parks are good for a community with young people in it. Moreover, they are safe, and other sports popular among youth see far more injuries than skateboarding.
For instance, said Maki, young hockey players are 40 times more likely to be sent to hospital than a skateboarder.
Skate park contractor Jim Barnum’s design is being used for this project, and the plans and engineering study have been approved.
“He [Barnum] is making something for the kids, with the kids’ input,” said Maki, referring to a brainstorming seminar which took place here last January.
“One end of the skate park will be for novices while the other will be for older, more ‘aggressive’ skaters,” he noted. “It’s safer that way, and better because it allows the younger kids to get out there without having to be in the way of the older kids.
“We want them to have fun and be safe.”
In related news, Maki said Community Services manager George Bell has put together an application to the Trillium Foundation for a grant for the skate park project.
The request is for $75,000, although Maki realizes the skate park committee might not get that full amount.
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
