A Black Diamond businessman who used to pop a few ollies in his day is looking to the community to help him modify the Town’s skate park.
Colin Fleming, along with Everett Tetz of Calgary’s New Line Skateparks, received Black Diamond Town council’s approval at its Aug. 19 meeting to begin the process of modifying the skate park behind the Oilfields Regional Arena. Fleming owns Rollick Co, a bike repair shop, which he operates out of his garage.
“I’ve been watching through Facebook the need and want for modifications to the skate park,” he told council. “I’m going to take on the initiative and would like permission to move forward with fundraising.”
Fleming told council the process will begin with an online survey that will offer three design proposals in an attempt to get public feedback. Once a concept is adopted, Fleming and New Line Skateparks will work on a budget, fundraising, grant applications and construction - targetting to begin in spring 2021.
During Wednesday’s presentation, Tetz told council the skate park is underutilized because of its design, which doesn’t offer a lot of the amenities modern skate parks do. He said his company has completed more than 300 successful skate park projects in the past 20 years.
“We’re going to look at some simple modifications to maximize that current footprint that is there and do it quite cost effectively,” he told council. “It’s about developing a space that’s going to meet the current needs of the user groups and attract more kids to the space.”
Among the modifications proposed are a quarter pipe and bowl. Tetz said there’s also the potential to expand the park with a possible tie-in to the nearby bicycle pump track.
“We really want this to be a multi-use area for skateboards, scooters and bikes,” he said. “Right now this is a very real street oriented park. Kids love flowing transitions and multiple styles of terrain and right now that’s what this park is lacking.”
Tetz said this initiative will make small improvements to the park so it’s more inviting and usable.
“For kids it gets them out and gets them active, especially in times like these when kids need these physical outlets,” he said. “Skate parks are really accessible means for kids to get out and exercise. It really attracts those kids that might not gravitate towards outside sports and it retains young families.
“We want to make it a really inviting space, not just for the user group but local families and people who want to go there and hang out.”
Tetz said not only is there an increase in youth getting into the sport, but skateboarding is now being included in the Olympics. Skateboarding was to make its Olympic debut at the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo.
While gathering some background about the skate park, Fleming said he learned it was constructed to keep youth from skating on benches and stairs throughout town. The design boasts a similar concept with benches, ledges and railings, but it only appeals to a specific style of skateboarding, he said.
Fleming said he’s raised $1,500 from refurbishing and selling bikes to donate to the park modifications, and will continue that momentum.
He plans to establish an ad hoc committee consisting of some Parks and Recreation Committee members, of which he’s a member.
“We want to get to a $300,000 skate park and grants will help us get there quicker,” he said. “I’m dedicated to see this through. I come out here quite a bit and talk to the kids. They just want some curves and ramps.”
