The Queen’s Park Arenex site is the top pick as the home of the city’s new skate park.
City council has given in-principle support to a plan to relocate the Mercer Stadium skate park to the former Arenex site in Queen’s Park and to integrate two or three skate park spots under the Front Street parkade at Fourth Street. As part of the redevelopment of New Westminster Secondary School, the city needs to relocate the existing skate facility from its Mercer Stadium site.
“If supported by council, staff anticipate construction of the new destination skate park and street-style skate spots to be complete in 2018,” said a staff report.
The city received input from about 300 people during a public process aimed at determining the design features and potential locations for a new skate park. Queen’s Park was cited as being the preferred location, followed closely by a location under the parkade, while Hume Park was seen as being the least desirable location. In addition to a new facility on the former Arenex site, the proposal would see two to three “street-style skate spots” such as single ramp, rail or skateable art integrated into existing open spaces under the parkade.
Phase 3 of the project’s consultation process gets underway this month and includes design workshops and a public open house. Staff will seek council’s final approval for a preferred location and design at a later date.
A staff report says the city has included money for the skate park in its five-year capital plan and will consider funding for the street-style skate posts under the parkade as part of the 2018 capital budget.
“For long-term success in meeting the needs of the skateboard community, the city will strive to provide skate facilities and programming that create a sense of community, belonging and vitality,” said the report.
