District of West Vancouver council voted to support a new Ambleside Skatepark with $100,000 to get the project rolling.
The project, which will see a complete revamp of the worn-out skate park currently in place on Ambleside Park’s waterfront, was approved by district council last month.
The district also approved $100,000 in funding through its parks and recreation budget towards the plan.
Combined with private funding already received, the total amount raised for the skate park so far is a little over $190,000.
Proponents of the new park still need to raise another $200,000 to meet the project’s price tag of around $400,000 in order to start construction in the fall.
“It has been a long road to get to where we presently are and there is still lots of work to be done,” said Eric Savics, the driving force behind the project, in an email. “The project will cost close to $400,000 so we currently have half of what we need. We will have to continue our fundraising efforts in order to break ground.”
Savics said he ultimately wasn’t surprised the overhaul was approved, considering the amount of support it seemed to garner from district council.
“We had a lot of support from the (district) council and then other people working within the municipality through the past two years as we’ve been working on this project.”
The project will see the worn asphalt surface of the current park replaced with a new concrete surface as well as some upgraded features and a slight expansion in size.
In order to raise the rest of the funding, sales of specially created skate apparel, such as Ambleside Surf Club apparel by Matix, will go directly towards funding the new park and is available at The Boardroom skateboarding store in North Vancouver.
Fundraising events are also in the works but ultimately Savics is hoping for more people to come forward with private donations.
“What we’re hoping to see now is that we’re able to find another few private donors who want to support this community amenity.”
Savics said that donors will receive a tax receipt for any donations over $25. Donations can be made through the project’s website amblesideskatepark.com or by sending a cheque to the West Vancouver Community Foundation.
