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Rossland Skatepark design revealed at meeting

The Rossland Skatepark Society revealed the initial design for the city’s skatepark on Monday night.
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The Rossland Skatepark Association revealed the skatepark’s design this week and also asked for input back on what people think.

The Rossland Skatepark Society revealed the initial design for the city’s skatepark on Monday night. The meeting was not only an opportunity to get a glimpse of what the park will look like, but also an opportunity to get more input in on the design.

Robin Strachen, a member of the RSA board, said the meeting gave people a chance to provide feedback to the designer, Spectrum Skatepark Creations, on how they felt the design was carried out from the orignial design intent.

“So generally the overall response has been very positive,” Strachan said. “We asked the folks that attended the meeting to answer four general questions pertaining to the design. The people that were at the meeting thought that the design fit very well with our original design intent and description that we gave to the designer.”

Strachan explained the process that brought the association and the skatepark to this point.

“It started with the public process to work through a selection of the sites, “ he said. “It went to council and they approved the approx. 15,000 sq. ft. on the southeast corner of the Emcon lot.”

They then started the public process to develop the design, as well as selecting the designer to pursue it.

“That was where we asked the community to fill out a survey and tell us what they want to see in a skatepark and how they want it to integrate into the community,” he said.

From that survey they developed a design intent, which provided some direction for the designer on the park.

This is the last step before the final design.

“What we’re working towards now, is to approach council for their approval of the design as well moving forward with rezoning the Emcon lot from light industrial to a park space,” he said, adding that the approval will be for the general feel and look of the design. He said they will probably need to further refine the design as they approach construction.

“Because of the nature of this very unique  design that we’ve put together for Rossland, there might be minor tweaks in that design,” he said.

Strachan said heard loud and clear that the people of Rossland wanted a unique park for the city. So they looked at the skateparks that are around and planned for the surrounding communities and tried to come up with something that is a complimentary fit.

“A big thing that we got from the community is that they are looking for a good flowing park,” he said. “Survey results showed that approximately 70 per cent of the park should be a flow and transition and bowl section.”

The association has also tried to include the history behind the lot, like Rossland’s mining and railway heritage.

The skatepark also mixes a good amount of expert and beginner terrain.

Up next, after council approval and rezoning of the lot, is the detailed engineering designs for the construction, as well as fundraising.

“We’re aiming for 2013 construction start to the park,” he said. “To make that happen we certainly need to pull together the money and the contracts and the community to make this happen.”

They are looking for anyone who can help them with things like excavation or in materials for the park, contributions which they would recognize.

For more info on the project go to www.skaterossland.com.