Word travels fast because the tricked out Beaver Valley Skate Park has been home to plenty of kids on wheels since its construction finished a week ago.
There won’t be a grand opening until 2017 mostly due to the time of year, so for now, park use is growing more organically – through word of mouth.
“It’s just unbelievable how many kids are there,” says Montrose Mayor Joe Danchuk, referring to the facility located on 9th Avenue, Montrose. “There’s been a lot of people, parents coming and sitting in cars because the weather is a little too cold to sit outside and watch – but some kids have been there four or five hours at a time. Everyone just loves it.”
The Beaver Valley Skate Park is an all-wheel venue that now offers something for everyone, he added.
“There is all different levels from beginners to advanced,” Danchuk said. “There’s skate boards, scooters and bikes down there – something for kids on every level. And it will stay open until it snows.”
Before official ribbon cutting in the spring, Danchuk says the committee plans to landscape along the bank and install amenities, like park benches.
“Because it’s so late in the year, we are just going to let the kids go.”
Functional and sightly updates were on the regional district’s radar since a 2013 survey of valley residents demonstrated strong support to upgrade the existing site.
Beaver Valley Recreation Committee featured the former Montrose Skate Park as its priority this year, the popular outdoor spot was in need of a complete overhaul after 13 years of use by countless youth from the village and beyond.
At just over $300,000, the project came into focus just before summer after the group’s successful application for a recreation grant through Columbia Basin Trust.
“We’ve had incredible feedback on the new skate park, and why not?” says Ali Grieve, Area B director and chair of the BV rec committee. “We started with a great location and with a great design to upgrade an existing park,” she said. “Add to this extensive community consultation with the youth and their parents, along with some help from Columbia Basin Trust, and we end up with a very modern, highly functional park.”
New Line Skateparks (designers and builders) delivered what the community asked for, she noted.
“Investing in our youth with a project like this will add tremendous social values for the kids to build on as they engage in community activities,” Grieve shared. “No doubt this skate park will be enjoyed by many for a very long time.”
She asks for the community to watch for details of the grand opening in the spring, and invites all to join the celebration.
