Castlegar to get our own indoor skatepark
By Kyra Hoggan
Not content to skate along on the summer success of Castlegar’s outdoor skatepark, Ty Smith, co-founder of Friends of the Castlegar Skatepark, has now secured space for an indoor venue, as well.
Smith said the Kinnaird Community Church has generously donated what used to be the woodworking classroom in the old Kinnaird Middle School for what will be a combination skatepark and drop-in centre for kids.
“This summer was amazing – we had 130 participants in the free drop-in program at the (outdoor) skatepark, 80-per-cent (of whom) were under 10 years old,” he said. “So there’s obviously a need for an accessible drop-in option for boys and girls in this community.
“It was wonderful to see kids who had never skateboarded at all getting comfortable and confident,” he added, explaining that, while it wasn’t uncommon to see the soccer fields and softball diamonds empty, it was rare indeed not to see 25 or 30 people at the outdoor skatepark this summer.
But, with the seasons changing and winter looming large, he said it’s time to turn our attention to a option that’s not so weather-dependant.
“I’m in the process of rallying people to come and volunteer their time to help us clear everything out (of the room in Kinnaird) – there’s wire and wood and debris.”
He said his only promotion has been through social media, but his Facebook group already has 60 members and he encouraged byt the level of support he’s already seen.
“There’s a whole bunch of people who really believe in this concept – having teh actual room is a big leg up.”
He said he’d like to see the room up and running (as it were) as early as this Christmas, with ramps and curves and such for the boarders and perhaps a small skateshop as well.
