Skatepark Questionnaire
Posted on
Attention Village Residents!
The Village is seeking feedback on a proposed location change for a Skatepark in Village Park.
Please complete this short questionnaire – link at the bottom of this page – if you have an interest in the skatepark project or the future development of Village Park in general.
You may submit the questionnaire online below or you can pick up a hard copy questionnaires at Cumberland Recreation (CRI) or the Municipal Office. Please submit by Friday April 1st 2016 (no kidding!). The questionnaire should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete.
A public open house is also being held to share information on the project on Wednesday March 30th at 7:00pm in Village Council Chambers.
View additional background information about the project.
View the Village Park Master Plan.
For more information, please contact Kevin McPhedran, Parks and Outdoor Recreation Coordinator by email or at 250-336-3012.
This project is undertaken in partnership with the Cumberland Community Schools Society.
Project Background
2013 Village Park Master Plan
The Village completed a master plan for Village Park in 2013 that provides high level direction on future improvements and developments in the park. The plan proposes the construction of a 6000 ft2 skatepark, a refurbished tennis court, and a practice basketball court adjacent to Dunsmuir Avenue (at the site of the current basketball and tennis courts). The conceptual cost estimate for this project in 2013 was approximately $480,000.
2014 – 2015 Hard Surfaces Play Area Project
In 2014/15 detailed design work was carried out for a new skatepark and upgraded basketball and tennis facilities adjacent to Dunsmuir Avenue. At this time, unconsolidated soils and contaminated fills were discovered at the site. While the contaminated fills are not a risk to public health, the soils and fill do not meet structural requirements for construction of a skatepark or new tennis and basketball facilities (without a high likelihood of future cracking). In order to develop this site, it would first need to be remediated at a high cost. Projected construction costs have increased substantially and estimates are now at $850,000.
In spring 2015, an application for $425,000 was submitted to a federal government grant program; however, the application was denied in late 2015. No other major recreation grants for the project are currently available.
Proposal to construct the Skatepark at the Sixth Street Site
In consideration of the high costs of developing the Dunsmuir location, and current available funding sources, other locations for the skatepark have been investigated. The next best site has been identified as adjacent to Sixth Street – south of the Dog Park and north of the future Jump Park – a site which was also proposed during the Village Park Master Plan process in 2013. To proceed with the project at this site, the bike Jump Park and Skatepark projects would be integrated with a new, smaller skatepark (about 5000 ft2), in addition to the Jump Park, to be constructed at the same time. Preliminary soil analysis has been completed and no evidence of contamination has been found. The conceptual cost estimate for building both the skatepark and jump park at this site is $450,000. Cost efficiencies are likely to be obtained by combining the two projects.
* Should this option be chosen, the future of the existing tennis and basketball court facilities will be determined at a later date.
Figure 1. Village Park overview showing previous proposed skatepark location adjacent to Dunsmuir Avenue and the new proposed location adjacent to Sixth Street.
Current funding and timelines:
The Village currently has $304,000 in a skatepark reserve fund (including funds raised by the Cumberland Community Schools Society), and $40,000 in a Jump Park reserve fund (including funds raised by the United Riders of Cumberland), for a combined $344,000 should the Sixth Street site be pursued. With a project estimate of $450,000, a funding shortfall of $106,000 would exist and Village Council will consider project funding during their annual budgeting process in spring 2016. Construction would begin once detailed design work is completed and full project funding is secured.
Next Steps:
Village Council will consider public feedback on the proposed location change. If the Sixth Street site is supported, a detailed design process for the site will be initiated. This process would include opportunities for skateboarders and other park users to provide input into the design of skatepark and other amenities at this location.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. Won’t bikes bring dirt and gravel from the Dirt Jump Park into the Skatepark?
A. If the Sixth Street site is chosen, the detailed design process will consider ways to restrict easy crossover of bicycles from the dirt jump park into the skatepark. Additionally, education will be provided with the goal of park users understanding and respecting this issue and safety concerns.
Q. With less traffic and public oversight, is safety and supervision a concern at the Sixth Street site?
A. While less vehicle traffic exists as compared to Dunsmuir Avenue, the Sixth Street site is not considered isolated given the proposed skateboard park would be built adjacent to the popular dog park and the future jump park. Clear sightlines may also be had of this location from other areas in Village Park.
Q. Will the skatepark be the same design as the previous design created by Spectrum in 2015?
A. No. The design completed in 2015 was for a 7200 ft2 skatepark, while a proposed skatepark at the Sixth Street site would be approximately 5000 ft2 in order to make the project more feasible in the short term. Similar to the 2014-15 Hard Surface Play Area planning and design process, a detailed skatepark design process would once again give skateboarders the opportunity to provide ideas and input into the skatepark design.
Q. What if contaminated soils are found at the Sixth Street location?
A. Preliminary soil studies have been completed at the Sixth Street location and no evidence of contaminated soils, organic materials, or poor quality fills were found.
Q. How does the revised proposal impact the Jump Park plans that have already been developed?
A. In 2015, the Village and UROC worked with Alpine Bike Parks to develop conceptual plans for the bike jump park in Village Park. While adjustments to the concept plan may be needed, final jump park plans will include three jumps lines (beginner, intermediate and advanced lines) and a pump track, as per the current concept plan.
Complete the Questionnaire
Skatepark Questionnaire March 2016
Search again