Photo by Marcel Vander Wier
TRICKSTER 鈥� Ben McPherson catches air during a trick on his bike Sunday afternoon at the Second Heaven Skatepark in Riverdale.
Photo by Marcel Vander Wier
SLALOM RACE 鈥� Shawn Pierce manoeuvres between cones during a friendly competition.
Photo by Marcel Vander Wier
YOUNG RIDER 鈥� Davis Smith hops the bar with his scooter.
Photo by Marcel Vander Wier
FUTURE STAR 鈥� Caleb Ledgerwood exits the concrete bowl at the Riverdale skatepark.
Photo by Marcel Vander Wier
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT 鈥� Nine-year-old Talen Doland works hard on his ollie.
Photo by Marcel Vander Wier
DAREDEVIL 鈥� Darryl Tait crests the skatepark's concrete bowl in his wheelchair.
Group seeking $500,000 facelift for skatepark
A newly formed non-profit group is aiming to drum up half a million dollars to refurbish a local skatepark.
A newly formed non-profit group is aiming to drum up half a million dollars to refurbish a local skatepark.
The Skate For Life Alliance hosted a fund-raiser barbecue event at Second Heaven Skatepark in Riverdale on Sunday, netting approximately $1,000 for the cause. The event included a variety of competitions for skaters, as well as BMX and scooter riders.
The group is led by skater Jess Gormley and includes volunteer skateboarders, parents and residents from across the city.
The Second Heaven Skatepark, built in 1995, has been tagged for its lack of ridability, features and flow.
"We've been talking about if for years,鈥� Gormley said Sunday. "We've talked about it long enough, so it was like, OK, now we have to do something.
"We would really like it to be concrete everywhere because the asphalt gets old and it gets rough, and it's hard to keep your speed. You need speed in order to get the tricks, so we want concrete, some banks, just some flow.鈥�
Gormley said they are looking for funding in a variety of places to make the dream a reality, including the city, the Yukon Government's Community Development Fund, and fund-raising through local business sponsorship and charity events.
The group is looking to have its new park designed by New Line Skateparks, a world-wide recognized design and construction firm based in Vancouver.
Besides an all-concrete skatepark, the group is also seeking some greenspace, a washroom and picnic tables.
Local skater Max Melvin-McNutt said the overall goal is to build a skatepark that will help draw younger skaters to the sport.
"That's part of the reason why I think not so many kids skateboard as much these days 鈥� it's not a very good park to learn on,鈥� he explained. "A lot of kids that are unsure of getting into the sport might be turned off by just the whole facility.
"Since I started skating when I was 12 years old, even then the park was a bit outdated,鈥� said 19-year-old said. "It was built in '95. It's since been outdated.鈥�
Skate For Life Alliance's vice-president Genevi茅ve Beaudin said it is important that any new park is designed by skateboarders.
Since the group was formed a month ago, it has raised about $2,000, Beaudin said.
"When you want to go and apply for community funding from various organizations, you need to prove that you have been doing something, that you have been trying to collect money,鈥� she explained.
"Obviously, we're not going to do 500,000 of those barbecues. It was mostly to raise awareness in the community so they can see something is happening.鈥�
Beaudin estimated the local skateboarding community to be more than 100-strong, in addition to BMX and scooter riders.
"It's different from what's happening with Sima, because not everybody skis, not everybody snowboards,鈥� she said.
"The skatepark is free to use for everybody. People from Outside can come and use it if they want. It's more a city facility.鈥�
If everything works out perfectly, Beaudin said she hopes construction to start in the next two years.
"We're not going to tear down the park without building a new one,鈥� she assured current park users.
Mayor Dan Curtis told the Star he is in support of the Skate For Life Alliance's efforts.
He has been impressed by the group's organization and enthusiasm in putting together a grassroots effort to fund their new park.
"They've just been such go-getters in taking up this cause with some real vigour 鈥� taking some real responsibility and ownership,鈥� the mayor said. "I'm really proud of them. I think they're doing the right thing. They're not looking at one well to draw from.
"They're not asking for a handout. They're asking for a hand up. I'm just so encouraged to see people taking some initiative and not demanding or pounding their fist on the table. They're just working really hard and respectfully. I find it refreshing, quite frankly, to see that energy. There's no stone unturned.鈥�
Curtis said the group is able to request funding from the city's recreation fund.
"They're available to all groups, and I'm really hopeful that they'll be successful in that,鈥� he said. "It's a big number. They're going to need a lot of money for this, and I'm really confident that they're going to achieve that.鈥�
For video footage of Sunday's charity event, head online and visit the Whitehorse Star Sports' YouTube channel or follow this direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8-eemu8neY.
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Comments (13)
Up 1 Down 0
Braeden dolan on Nov 23, 2014 at 8:35 pm
Bobby bitman, I think you should see how much those kids progressed since you were a kid. They need a better park. They can't just learn new tricks on a board that's propped up on a curb. You honestly have no clue what so ever... And everbody else putting down skaters and the skate park, keep working your office job and see how much fun you have.
Up 6 Down 1
Arn Anderson on Sep 28, 2013 at 7:39 am
In this marvelous world with all its beauty and interests, youth being bored is at the top of list in this world of distractions. Again, throw money at a problem that doesn't exist, let alone money at a activity that encompasses 4 months of the year.
Up 6 Down 3
Just Say'in on Sep 28, 2013 at 7:33 am
Yep it is about money. If you don't think it is, how about you pay. That is a lot of money per kid so they can HANG as you put it. hmmm
Up 6 Down 13
B. Foster on Sep 27, 2013 at 1:33 am
Man....what a catty bunch. It's about the youth and the avenues available to them here, in the Yukon, that perhaps lean away from less desirable activities.
Pretty pathetic to see all the sarcasm and whining when it comes to something as important as providing some places for our youth to hang and also a place where interactions may happen between the generations as well. After all skaters get old too.
It's about way more than money, the litany of "I don't do it so why should I pay for it" is pathetic and embarrassing...maybe awkward is a better word. You know, the same kind of feeling when you watch someone make a total ass of themselves (which I've done many times...so I can speak to it).
Seriously, I don't patronize the CGC, ever, but I can appreciate that others value it so I don't whine and cry about having a portion of my tax dollar go into running it, even though I think it is largely over sized for the community.
If it's about the youth then it's about the future and mayhap about them giving back at some point in the future, which is a great example of what the group trying to improve the park is trying to do in my estimation, give something back by wading into the mess of sneering and catcalls that seems inevitable by the comments here. All the crying and sarcasm and pointing out obvious things that mean little is a clear message to young people that "we care about the money more than your needs or development, so go have your little bush parties, go hang in your basements and living rooms, go spend all your time gaming, youtubing, vidding out and leave the big issues to the big folks....mmmmkay?".
Totally same story with Sima with the same money money mentality.
It's money. It's nothing, but to listen to the whining it's everything. So is that the message we have for youth, that money is everything? Nice.
Up 5 Down 12
Kim Dolan on Sep 26, 2013 at 1:11 pm
I think that this is an awesome project and much needed as the skatepark is a popular place for all ages. I just want to note that the forth picture is Talen Dolan (with no d at the end!!)
Up 15 Down 5
Arn Anderson on Sep 26, 2013 at 11:25 am
Real issues need 500k badly, not this.
Up 4 Down 13
Judy Gibbons on Sep 26, 2013 at 10:41 am
Kudos to the organizers and volunteers spearheading the improvements to the skate park. Loving your sport and putting your time, effort and heart into the betterment of the existing facility for not only yourselves but local youth and others is commendable. Identifying the needs of users and now moving forward towards making that happen is certainly a worthwhile effort and you have my wholehearted support. (I have made a donation to the cause.) To the naysayers who have already commented: it does not sound as though any of you would comment favourably on an honest effort by any group for support of their activity. Youth in this town could be doing a lot worse things and rather than bash their effort you might show a little support by keeping your negative, self serving drivel to yourselves.
Up 21 Down 6
Jackie Ward on Sep 26, 2013 at 5:13 am
Here's my view on it. I was a teenager when this park was built. For its time, and I believe it still is, all this town needs. I'm actually surprised it was built in the first place. For the size of our town, and the small amount of people who actually use it, it's all we need. Sure maybe a facelift might be in order, but not 1/2 million dollars worth, no way. Might I add this is a very very bad time to be coming out and asking for money. Mt Sima has left a very bad taste in people's mouth, and this I assume is just salt in the wound. Who sells are the skate stuff in town? Lol. Exactly.
Up 11 Down 4
yukoner on Sep 26, 2013 at 3:24 am
That's right the line is at welfare.
Up 17 Down 5
yukoner on Sep 26, 2013 at 3:22 am
Where do I line up for the free money.
Up 22 Down 8
bobby bitman on Sep 25, 2013 at 6:51 am
The skate board community is a hundred strong? Oh! So you only want $5,000 each to ride your skate boards.
What is going on in this town?!!
If 100 skateboarders want a half million dollar park, PAY FOR IT. I honestly marvel at how blithely people ask for massive amounts of money in this town. If they were asking for $20,000, I would agree with their entire message. But nope. Kids these days need a park designed in Vancouver, and then fly up the construction team so everything is 'perfect and smooth' for them.
Whoa. When I was a kid we rode down the middle of the street and made our own jumps.
Up 21 Down 6
Just Say'in on Sep 24, 2013 at 10:46 am
Oh I am sorry I forgot. The same guys that sell all the ski's and snowboards in town also sell skate boards and all the gear that goes with it. Maybe that is the connection? More right of entitlement money. Let's just shake the S____, out of that money tree.
Up 21 Down 6
Just Say'in on Sep 24, 2013 at 10:42 am
Skate For Life Alliance's vice-president Genevi茅ve Beaudin said Obviously we aren't going to do 500,000 of those Barbecues. Hold it that math didn't work. hmmm. Where do these groups keep coming from, only wanting a half a million or so. Do they know how many tax paying households there are in Whitehorse or does that math escape them as well?