Skateboard coalition raising funds for West Shore all-wheels park
The Westshore Skate Park Coalition is looking to raise $100,000 to build an all-wheels park for skateboarders, scooters and BMX riders at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre.
The budget to build the new park on donated land near the Q Centre in Colwood is pegged at a little more than $760,000. Skaters were left with nowhere to skate after the only facility on the West Shore was demolished near the former Belmont High School in Langford six years ago.
“It’s sad that we have to fight for a skate park when it was taken from us,” said Westshore Skate Park Coalition president Jimmy Miller. “This is a beautiful piece of land that we have and it’s a gift, so we have a spot, we have a design and we have donations in kind to make this happen, but we’re just not at that creation stage yet.”
Miller hopes that by launching the “100X1000” campaign, the coalition can find 100 donors or group donors to donate $1,000 each to build the new park.
“May be there’s a neighbourhood where there’s a bunch of skateboarders that all see the strength in our project and they want to go in on it together,” said Miller. “After six years we hope our project and the amount of good it will make can be seen.”
Miller says with no skating facility on the West Shore, people who want to use a skate park are forced to travel to the Vic West Skate Park, the Tulista Skate Park in Sidney or the facility in Sooke.
“It’s been tough for all of us, especially families because we’re all looking for places to go for our kids that are free of charge,” said Miller. “This is the exact same argument for playgrounds in your neighbourhood, if we want to grow our communities we need to invest in our communities. So let’s build something that means something and this skate park can be that something.”
Miller says having a skate park at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre would offer a family-friendly activity with amenities, such as a municipal golf course and a lacrosse box nearby.
“When we get this skate park built we will address a need,” said Miller. “It will be overflowing with kids that didn’t have some place to go.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.