The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Kelly Carrington Staff Writer The Flin Flon Skatepark opened to much fanfare last week, just two years into its planning thanks to all of the community support received. 'Had those people not contributed, this (project) could have taken easily two more years to build or maybe it wouldn't have happened at all,' said City of Flin Flon recreation manager Mike Dubreuil. About 100 people were out for the grand opening at the former jungle gym site beside Many Faces Education Centre last Friday and Saturday. Dubreuil, who helped the volunteer committee involved with the park, began his job with the city in 2010. In his first week he met with then-councillor and current mayor George Fontaine. Fontaine told Dubreuil that a skatepark had been attempted many times over the previous five or six years, but 'it never seemed to grab hold or get off the ground.' As the new recreation manager, Dubreuil did some research and found there were plenty of youth using skateboards at various locations in the area. The next step was to organize a committee. Fontaine and Dubreuil called for those interested in getting the project going. An initial meeting had Alex McGilvery in attendance, and he would soon become the chair of the Flin Flon Skatepark Committee. McGilvery, well known as the pastor at the Northminster Memorial United Church, showed an interest as his son was an avid skateboarder. 'I volunteered to be on the committee at that time to help get the project going,' said McGilvery, who attended a skateboarding demonstration the Rotary Club had put on at Creekside Park. 'That morphed into being the chairperson,' he said. The planned skatepark faced hurdles, but both Dubreuil and McGilvery agreed the timing was right and the committee got great support from the community. Grand opening This past Friday and Saturday, the Flin Flon Skatepark hosted its grand opening. City Councillor Tim Babcock was on hand to cut the ribbon for the park as roughly 70 skaters and bikers were eager to get the evening going. A few higher-calibre skateboarders were on hand Friday night for a demonstration as well as a workshop the next morning.The boarders hailed from Winnipeg, Thompson and The Pas. 'They were impressive and worked well with the local kids,' McGilvery said. 'They did lots of teaching on Saturday and emphasized safety and courtesy as well as respecting the park and keeping it clean.' None of the committee members expected the total turnout for the grand opening of about 100 people. 'It was a great turnout _ better than I think anyone would have expected,' said Dubreuil. McGilvery was just as impressed with the crowd. 'We had a great turnout both Friday evening and Saturday. It was terrific to see parents out watching the skating,' he said. See 'Committee' pg. 4 Continued from pg. 1 Over the course of two years the Flin Flon Skatepark Committee began work with an Ontario-based company on design concepts. After finding a closer company, in Manitoba, the committee changed paths to go with the company better suited to their needs. The proposed skatepark was going to cost roughly $350,000. The committee started fundraising and applying for grants. Dubreuil, who took command of a subcommittee for grant writing, said the group applied for plenty of grants with high hopes. 'We wrote anywhere from 12 to 16 grants to various local and provincial bodies,' he said. The recreation manager said the committee 'was fortunate to be approved for that large of a number.' The committee raised money on its own as well through fundraisers like tag days. 'We still have one grant still outstanding that we haven't heard (about) yet, but we're hoping to get an answer in the next two months,' said Dubreuil. 'If that grant comes through, we will have raised the full $350,000 for the park.' Though construction has just been completed at the Flin Flon Skatepark and the complete financials are not yet available, Dubreuil says he thinks the project may be under budget. 'It's a possibility we may be under budget. We're keeping our fingers crossed,' he said. 'If (we're) not under budget, we're very close to our budget.' If the Skatepark Committee isn't approved for the outstanding grant, Dubreuil says the group will have to figure out what is left and apply more fundraising tactics. Short steps Though already in use, the skatepark remains a few short steps away from completion. With sod laid around the park, fences in place and the concrete ramps already getting much use, the only thing left, really, is lighting, said Dubreuil. 'Part of that (grant) money (would go) towards the lighting,' he said. The committee hopes to see lighting up over the next month to close out to the project. Dubreuil says there is room for expansion at the park, but that would be a future project if the committee chooses to do so. Now that the skatepark is open, the City of Flin Flon will assume responsibilities for things like garbage removal and maintenance. 'That's not talking about destruction of something,' Dubreuil adds. 'Thankfully, though, the park is made of concrete and very solid features that shouldn't require any major repairs any time soon.' Dubreuil was 'very pleased' with the grand opening and 'absolutely thrilled with how the park turned out in general.' He's not the only one, as McGilvery is just as pleased. 'I am really impressed with the park,' he said. 'It is absolutely amazing that we have that good (of) a park in Flin Flon. 'Nick (McGilvery's son) has skated in New York and said that the park was as good as the one he used in New York City.' McGilvery encourages youth to use safety equipment like any other sport they would participate in. As well, he says its important for users to keep the park clean and tidy. Dubreuil, who has travelled to various skateparks across the country, says anyone who doubted the need for a skatepark in Flin Flon should take a trip to the new site. 'All you need to do is (to have) gone to that park at any point in time and see it was worth building,' he said. With a little elbow grease and some new lumber, an old set of bleachers was given new life and installed at the park _ something those in attendance appreciated this past weekend.
