Officials gathered for a physically distanced sod-turning at the new Springbrook Skatepark on Monday. (Supplied)

By Sheldon Spackman

Keeping Kids Active

Construction underway on new skatepark in Springbrook

May 4, 2021 | 3:10 PM

Shovels have hit the ground on a long-awaited project for youth in Springbrook.

On Monday, members of the Springbrook Community Skatepark Committee were joined by other local dignitaries in marking the official start of construction on the Springbrook Skatepark.

Adrian Pidhirney, President of the Springbrook Community Skatepark Committee, says the project has been nine years in the making.

“There’s been lots of work done by the kids in the community to do fundraising and bottle drives and car washes and benefit concerts and things like that that have gone on in the community to raise some funds for this, and they’re finally getting to see it happen,” he exclaims.

Weather permitting, Pidhirney anticipates construction to wrap up by early August.

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“We’re having our big Grand Opening celebration as part of the Springbrook 25^th anniversary which is on August 21,” he reveals. “So we’ll be having a big celebration and ribbon cutting and doing whatever we can with the restrictions that will be in place at the time I guess. We’re hoping to have some professionals come out and do some demonstrations and have some food and giveaways and door prizes and all that kind of stuff.”

Located just south of the Springbrook Multiplex, Pidhirney says the cost breakdown of the $605,000 project is roughly $55,000 for its design and $550,000 for construction.

“We ended up getting a CFEP (Community Facility Enhancement Program) grant through the provincial government for $125,000 and then Red Deer County has pitched in quite a bit. I think close to $400,000 for the project, and then the community has done a tonne of fundraising towards it as well.

“We still have a few of the peripheral things. The amenities, the benches, the trails, the signs, lighting, things like that that we want to work on after the park gets completed,” he points out.

Pidhirney says the skatepark will be about 8,000-square-feet with an open-bowl concept, accessible by all, and designed for skaters of all abilities.

Once finished, he anticipates the new skatepark to be an active hub in the community.

“Close to 40 per cent of the population of Springbrook is under 21,” he remarks. “It’s a very young community, so there’s probably going to be 400 youth that are eligible to use it or wanting to use it. Not to mention, skateparks kind of come with their own tourism industry as well. There’s so many people that travel and they put skateparks on their list of things to do.”

Pidhirney says community support for this project is what makes him the most proud.

“We’ve had a great dedicated group of volunteers to guide us through and to make it happen. The kids really have nothing to do out here. So you know, once you’re out of the playground phase of your youth, they’re just left on the streets. This will get them off the streets and give them some place to go and have fun.”

For more information, or to support the skatepark, visit www.sc-sc.org.