A group of excited folks gathered up at Art Gibbon Park Wednesday morning, gazing across the grassy field that will soon house Nelson’s long awaited outdoor skatepark.
They were there to celebrate with a groundbreaking ceremony — the climax of a dream more than a decade in the making.
Even though the Kootenay Outdoor Skatepark Society has great reason to celebrate, the organization is still a significant chunk of change short of the $600,000 price tag attached to the biggest and promised best skatepark in the West Kootenay.
A $400,000 community recreation grant secured from the province in March 2012 was the turning point which helped “get the tidal wave going,” according to society spokesman Chad Hansen. Since then, other businesses and service clubs and individuals have substantially contributed but that tidal wave still needs further fuelling.
The fact that about $30,000 still needs to be raised was not lost on Nelson’s Daybreak Rotary club. In the same vein of enthusiasm for the progress being made, Sandra England stood among the crowd gathered in Rosemont and issued a challenge to the community on behalf of her service club.
Promising the skatepark society $5,000, she called on others in the community to follow suit. Considering the giant strides made in making the all-wheel park a reality, finding the funds still needed is all about baby steps to make it the best park it can be.
Wednesday marked a monumental day where those behind the initiative could celebrate strides made. A congratulations goes out to all who’ve contributed thus far.
The kids up at Art Gibbon Park stood aside the adults, skateboards under their arms overjoyed at the facility just beyond their grasp. Let’s help them put their wheels to the new park’s pavement and find those final funds we need.