An asphalt pad in the Town of Pictou has seen its fair share of use over the years, but today the Pictou Skate Park Society is one step closer to turning Brodie Park into a permanent year-round destination for the county’s skateboarders, rollerblades, BMX riders and even roller derby players.
For society founder, Ashley George, community support and partnership with The Town of Pictou are key ingredients to making the All Wheels Skate Park a reality.
“We had a meeting in November, and a lot of people came and told us what they wanted in the park,” said George pointing to three different design drawings on the table in front of him. “That’s where all this came from.”
The November meeting was an opportunity for the town’s skate community to add their input in what they’d want to see at Brodie Park. Unlike previous iterations of a Pictou skate park, the ramps will be purpose-built by professionals and will have the staple features of a skate park that you could find in any town that caters to its skate community.
“Everything. A bowl, a bunch of rails, stairs, everything possible,” said George. “So many other towns have them. It benefits kids and old men like me,” he added laughing.
With a generous donation from the Sutherland Harris Memorial Hospital Foundation to the tune of $25,000 and a $5,000 contribution from the Nova Scotia Department of Communities Culture and Heritage, the Pictou Skate Park Society is ready for the drawing-board.
Newline Skateparks, a Toronto firm of registered landscape architects and engineers will be reviewing the community’s concept drawings and turning them into something that a construction crew can work with.
“That has a price tag,” said Michelle Young, Recreation Coordinator with the Town of Pictou. “That money is going to the engineered drawings. Basically, the construction package for the park.”
In partnership with the Pictou Skate Park Society, Young said that the Town of Pictou is looking forward to offering a new recreational facility.
“We have to do it right,” she said. “And it has to be community driven. I won’t be skating it, it’ll be the community.”
“You say that now,” said George laughing.
“Maybe I’ll try a little.”
The cost for the project totals at $250,000. For George, Young and the dedicated core of skaters and supportive community members that will mean fundraisers and grants.
“It doesn’t happen overnight,” said George. “It takes time. And we have core of people who are making it work.”