Thursday 19 June 1997

COUNCIL TO PROMOTE NEEDS OF SKATEBOARDERS AND PEDESTRIANS

The City Council is consulting with the community on building a new facility for skateboarders, while looking to designate some areas of the City Centre as skateboard free.

The proposed new park on Washington Reserve, on the corner of Moorhouse Avenue and Waltham Road follows requests and demands for a new skating facility.

“The number of skateboarders and rollerbladers has continued to increase, particularly over the last two years, since the Hagley facility was demolished in 1993,” said Chris Freeman of the Parks Unit. “Yet skaters have few facilities and so are moving into areas such as City Centre Streets and the Victoria Square Park, where there is some difficulty with pedestrians,” he said.

“Our intention is to move skaters from areas where pedestrians move into facilities where they can display their skills without inconveniencing the general public,” said Chris Freeman.

The proposed skating arena at Washington Reserve is designed specifically for both rollerbladers and skateboarders and has the approval of local skaters who are eagerly awaiting its construction.

The City Council is looking at a bylaw change to prohibit skateboarding in certain areas. This will be discussed at the Council meeting of 25 June.

Further information about the skate facility proposal and submission forms are available from the Parks Unit, 2nd Floor of the Civic Offices. The closing date for submissions will be Friday 25 July, 1997.

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For further information contact:

Chris Freeman (skateboarding park) 371-1638

Terry Moody (skateboarding areas) 371-1834

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