A new skateboard park may be on the horizon for Carbon youth.
A dedicated group of parents are in the process of raising funds to build a skatepark to help give more recreation options to the more than 200 youth in the community.
A group of parents in Carbon is hoping to build a skatepark at the Lions Centennial Park for the village’s youth. At the moment, the parents are fundraising and seeking donations, either cash or in-kind. It is estimated a skatepark will cost roughly $150,000.
“The kids came to the parents. We’ve always wanted more recreation options for them in town and they’ve been talking about a skatepark for the past few years, but nothing was ever followed through with,” said Renee O’Brien, a member of the committee to build a skatepark and has a 15-year-old son who skateboards.
“We want to, as a committee, get a skatepark going for them. Right now, we are in the fundraising stage.”
The committee is hoping to raise roughly $150,000 to build the park. They have already contacted New Line Skateparks, who are also designing Drumheller’s upcoming skatepark.
The committee is hoping the Village of Carbon can contribute some land in the Lions Centennial Park.
“We went to the Village and asked for a donation of land, but just have to wait for the new Council to look at it,” said O’Brien.
O’Brien feels a skatepark is necessary to give youth in Carbon more recreation options and it could be utilized by the village’s many summer campers.
“There’s probably 200 kids in Carbon and we have our high school kids. In the winter, we have the skating and curling rinks, but in the summer, we just have the pool. So with this, it could be open from when the snow melts to first snow,” said O’Brien. “We also have a lot of campers in the summer, so it would be great for them, because there would be more recreation for their children.”
They are also hoping businesses or individuals can donate their time or equipment when it comes time to build the park.
“We’re looking for donations when it comes to excavating the land or concrete when we start building,” said O’Brien.
