A skatepark proposed for Summerland would be a welcome amenity for the community.
The park, which would replace a much older facility, has been promoted as a way to attract visitors to the downtown area and as a benefit to youth and young families.
However, paying for a new skatepark is a significant obstacle.
The anticipated cost of the facility is $594,200, but so far, only $135,000 has been received.
That funding has come in the form of a grant from the Penny Lane Society.
A Canada 150 grant application, which would have provided $300,000, was not approved. This has been a setback to the proposed facility.
Without the grant, roughly three-quarters of the cost of the skatepark is still needed.
Several fundraisers have been planned to raise money for the proposed facility, but even with strong public support, the park will need grant funding or the significant financial support of one or more large donors.
For a community of our size, the cost is substantial. Summerland’s population is less than 12,000.
Even if money can be raised from outside Summerland but within the region, the cost is still significant.
Donors are already being called upon to contribute to the Penticton Regional Hospital expansion project and other worthwhile initiatives.
Local amenities in Canada seldom happen without some form of grant funding. Communities on their own can seldom afford facilities such as this one.
The proposed skatepark would bring benefits to the community.
However, if this facility is to become a reality, funding opportunities must be made available.