More than 40 Fernie-ites with an interest in the town’s soon-t0-be brand new skate-park showed up to a community workshop on Thursday evening.
The workshop at the Fernie Community Centre was the first opportunity for locals to submit feedback and suggestions directly to the company that will design and build the new park in central Fernie, after the city secured almost $1.3 million in federal and provincial funding earlier this year.
Trevor Morgan, of Newline Skateparks, said in a presentation ahead of stakeholder feedback that they hoped to use the feedback to create “an amazing skate-park … (and) an amazing public space.”
“Hopefully this becomes one of the city’s marquee destinations, and we have just as many people who are interested in it as those who are skateboarding,” said Morgan.
Feedback and discussion from the community workshop would be used to develop a strong set of guiding principals on what Fernie wants when the designers get to putting pen to paper and designing a space that the community can be proud of and make good use of according to Morgan.
Funding for the park ($1.28 million) will also need to be spent on things like pathway connections, lighting and seating so that the new park seamlessly integrates with the downtown core.
Morgan also shared details on a timeline for a new park, with community input and concept designs to wrap up by the end of September this year at the latest. After that, the company would go into an initial design phase which would take another 8-10 weeks.
By first thaw in 2023, Morgan said they would be breaking ground and demolishing the old park, with construction to take between 14 and 18 weeks.
“Phase four is you enjoying the park.”
READ MORE: Fernie’s new skate park plans backed by $1.28 million in grants
scott.tibballs@thefreepress.ca
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