Being agreeable to move an extra few extra feet seems to have made all the difference to get the town’s skate park motoring.
Erin councillors are hoping a decision will be a win-win for all those involved. Part of it involved once more adjusting the proposed location.
The latest move is more an adjustment, but will allow the skate park construction to proceed, and save the adjacent ball diamond from being demolished.
Shortly after council had agreed to situate the skate park over the ball diamond, residents’ concerns were voiced in Erin village. Bill Dinwoody presented additional findings to the town regarding the cost and installation details for the Erin skate park project.
He stressed a need to move the project ahead immediately.
Of the three requests for proposals to get prices, only one bid was received by deadline. Dinwoody said Canadian Ramp Co. of Burlington has designed and installed skate parks from coast to coast.
Two options were provided.
He said, a basic layout is $99,465 while a second option that includes four skate park elements is $112,468, fully installed, including the cement pad and a 20 year warranty.
Dinwoody said if work began immediately, it would take 74 days, with the cement pad portion taking 26 days to complete.
“After extensive evaluation of both designs, we are recommending option two because it is more appealing to the kids who will be using the park.”
Dinwoody said he hopes for a quick council response to have the project completed this summer. He said there may be also costs associated with additional lighting and fencing, if required.
Erin skate park committee member Miki Ackerman reminded council “the children and parents of the towns are expecting that the skate park be built this year, after the direction made by council last month.”
She added at the recent celebratory event held by the Erin Skate Park Committee, there were more than 40 children.
“We strongly believe it speaks to the need and desire for a skate park in the community. They are all very excited.”
“The time has come to start building,” she said.
Dinwoody said recently there has been a lot of opposition raised as a result of the proposal that would have constructed the skate park over a portion of the ball diamond.
Part of that discussion, he said, was connected to the possibility of expanding the parking lot at Centre 2000.
At that time, it seemed far more economical and provided good visibility.
However, Dinwoody said the committee has raised considerable funds for the project.
“These funds must be used this year or they will be lost. Any delay will kill the project and may create repercussions within the community.”
He said the simplest solution would be to locate the skate park in the first location considered – at the end of the arena over the old beach volleyball court. That allows the ball diamond to remain.
Dinwoody said shifting the location 10 to 20 feet in one direction would also mean the proposed skate board park would not interfere with the old septic bed site.
“Therefore the skate park committee asks council to reverse its decision of April 3 and that the skate park be built at its original position.”
He said, “We need a positive decision tonight … to begin building tomorrow.”
Councillor John Brennan said originally he favoured locating the park at the ball diamond, primarily because of the visibility issue. “What we looked at is not as good as that [for visibility], but it is better than the very original site. It’s a compromise. What it does do, is take away the objections.”
Brennan believes there were miscommunications in terms of the amount the Erin ball diamond was used. He said, “No one on the committee was trying to get rid of the ball diamond.”
Brennan said it was considered a feasible site only because of the perceived lack of use.
He believes the location of the skate park now will meet community needs. Erin will still have to find a way to address parking concerns at Centre 2000.
“I would not want to be doing this and then 18 months later face a proposal to pave over the ball diamond to provide parking. If we do this, in my mind, it means the ball park stays for the foreseeable future and if we have a parking problem, we solve it in another way.”
Mayor Lou Maieron said there has been considerable discussion on the issue.
“No one was opposed to the skate park, it was about losing the ball diamond to build the skate park.” He said construction would only allow for two weeks of use at the end of August.
Tocher said the bottom line for her is there should be no delay. The project should be started as soon as possible.
“It’s been on council’s radar for a number of years. It is an activity where I see skateboarders every day trying to find a place in both Erin and Hillsburgh.”
Tocher recommended whatever resolution council passes, it should include a contingency for site preparation and other potential costs – such as fencing, lighting or sound baffles.
Following a closed session, council approved the skate park cost of $112,468 and incidental costs and that the location for the project be amended.
Council’s approval was met with a round of applause from the audience.
Maieron said for the people interested in the baseball diamond, it will remain.
“The ball diamond remains and the skate park gets built. It’s a win-win situation. Everyone’s happy.”
