Airdrie's mayor and councillors appeared to welcome the possibility of a second skate park in Airdrie during a regular City council meeting Sept. 21.
At the meeting, Mayor Peter Brown brought forward a notice of motion requesting staff provide information on the feasibility of constructing another skate park.
“We’ve been talking about new skateboard parks for kids since I was elected, it feels like,” he said. “I would probably encourage it to be on the east side, but that’s my own thoughts.”
Currently, Airdrie’s only skate park is located in Chinook Winds Regional Park, in the southwest quadrant of the city. The 20,000 square-foot park, which opened in 2010, features concrete ramps, bowls, rails and other features.
According to Brown, the park is a highly popular spot for local skateboarders, rollerbladers and bike riders. With the amenity now a decade old, he said there is a demand for another skate park.
“We have many kids that utilize it and it’s absolutely overflowing in the summertime,” he said.
After a brief discussion, the notice of motion passed unanimously, though some councillors felt the ideal spot for a new skate park might still be on the west side of the city.
“I feel for the kids on the east side, but those of us on the northwest side feel the same way about a lot of those services," Coun. Candice Kolson said. "It’s kind of the same distance for us to go.”
Deputy Mayor Al Jones also said he’d like to see a second skate park in Airdrie but added it would be ideal if the facility were included within the context of a larger regional park. He noted the Chinook Winds skate park is adjacent to a host of other recreational amenities including baseball diamonds, a playground, a multi-use rink with basketball nets, green space and beach volleyball courts.
“It doesn’t have to be ball diamonds, but I do think it has to be something more than another skate park,” he said. “I just can’t picture that in my mind without some other amenities around it that other family members, who perhaps don’t skateboard, could take advantage of.”
Coun. Tina Petrow said she’d also like to see if it's possible to expand the existing skate park in Chinook Winds.
With council's decision, City staff will report back on the feasibility of a new skate park at a future meeting.
Scott Strasser, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @scottstrasser19
