(freeimages.com/Gilles Van Leeuwen)

By Troy Gillard

Park Ambassador

Sylvan Lake launches ‘Skate Park Ambassador’ pilot project

Jun 23, 2020 | 2:41 PM

The Town of Sylvan Lake is taking a new approach toward making the town’s skate park more enjoyable for all.

The Skate Park Ambassador Pilot Project will start later this month and run for 12 weeks through September.

As part of its response to COVID-19 the Town of Sylvan Lake placed a seasonal Bylaw Officer at the skate park to enforce public health orders and restrictions relating to the pandemic.

The Town’s hope was that that the officer would also be able to provide a modified version of a skate park ambassador, however staff told council the move was “met with some uneasiness and frustration by the skate board community as they felt the presence of an ‘officer’ meant the Town did not trust them and wanted to watch over them at all times.”

Although the Bylaw Officer is an effective tool for enforcement, it was not effective in creating a positive rapport with the skate park community, council was told on Monday.

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Under the new pilot program, the Park Ambassador – who is an existing Parks staff member and regular park user of the skate park – will be on-site Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. with scheduling being reviewed and revised accordingly throughout the pilot season.

While on duty, signage will be placed stating that there is a Park Ambassador on site and the staff member will be clearly recognizable in a yellow Town of Sylvan Lake shirt with “Skate Park Ambassador” print on the back,

The Skate Park Ambassador’s responsibilities include a complete daily inspection of the park, daily sweeping of the skate surface, daily waxing of rails and hourly cleaning of the Four Seasons washrooms. They’ll also be tasked with landscape maintenance and litter and garbage removal.

The ambassador will also be interacting with park users and spectators and assisting beginners and young park users with etiquette, flow and technique, along with coordinating organized competitions at the skate part provided they follow AHS COVID-19 guidelines. They’ll also be in charge of playing “clean” music for skate park users to enjoy.

Should any issues come up the Park Ambassador will ensure compliance issues and contact Municipal Enforcement if required.

The cost for the pilot program is covered by the existing parks operating budget. Should it become permanent it would cost the Town of Sylvan Lake about $15,000 annually and would be presented during 2021 budget deliberations.

The Skate Park is scheduled to close June 26-27 for scheduled concrete work.