A new skateboard park for Summerland is in the works because of the combined efforts of a charity society, the municipality and the school board.
The land for the park is on a portion of the Summerland Secondary School property, while $275,000 of the funding has been pledged by the Summerland Charity Shop Society — Penny Lane. The municipality will put out the request for proposals.
While Summerland has had a skateboard park in place since the late 1990s, that facility is dated and it is considered unsafe by today’s standards.
The new location will also have much better visibility than the existing skateboard park.
While the new park will be important as a facility for Summerland’s youth, it is also important as a community-driven initiative.
This project is happening because several organizations have been working in harmony.
Without the cooperation of the charity society, the municipality and the school board, this project could not happen.
The collaborative effort shown so far should serve as an example for future community projects.
Other efforts have worked for Summerland’s benefit in past years, and there are examples of collaborations, community fundraising initiatives and projects which came together as a result of teamwork.
There will be opportunities for other united efforts in the years to come.
Some of Summerland’s existing facilities will soon need to undergo upgrades or expansion work. Others are nearing the end of their lifespans.
If cooperative efforts can be put in place, the upkeep and improvement of the community will be a smooth, comfortable process.