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From the March 17 Vancouver courier.
Developer never informed about skateboard park
By Sandra Thomas-Staff writer
A vice-president for one of the city's largest development companies says he was surprised to read in the Courier about a proposed skateboard park that will border two of his housing complexes, including one that's under construction.
Eric Martin, vice-president of development for Bosa Development, said he was never notified by the parks board or city about the proposal, which will be adjacent to CityGate towers and another building under construction across the street.
By the time he heard about the street-style skateboard facility, Martin said, it had already been approved by the parks board. Approval in principle was granted Feb. 24, although the concept must still go to city council, likely within the next month.
The city-owned land under the Dunsmuir/Georgia viaducts at the intersection of Quebec Street, Union Street and Expo Boulevard North is now being used to store equipment from the Indy race.
"The first I actually heard about it was an e-mail from someone, then I read it in the paper," Martin said. "When I phoned and inquired about it, I was told a public consultation would take place now. I find it unusual they would approve it and then hold a public consultation."
The board's 2002-2003 capital plan included an allocation of $223,250 to develop a street-style skateboard plaza in or near the downtown core that would replicate an urban landscape, complete with stairs, ledges, curbs and handrails. The project was proposed partly in response to a growing demand for areas for street-style skating and partly to ease problems caused by people skateboarding illegally downtown, damaging public and private property.
Mark Vulliamy, manager of recreation and planning for the parks board, said he met last Tuesday night with about 30 concerned residents of the CityGate housing complex, located at Main and Quebec streets. Also on hand were Vancouver police Insp. Dave Jones and Corey McIntyre of the Skate Park Coalition.
Most agreed that the facility is a good idea, but ideas about where it should be built vary, Vulliamy said. "This was not a full meeting of the minds."
He said one of the key issues brought up at the meeting is the distance from Stadium SkyTrain station to the proposed park. Because most skateboarders take public transportation, residents are concerned about a steady stream of skateboard traffic-and accompanying noise and street-style stunts-from the station to the park, a route that cuts directly in front of CityGate.
Vulliamy said the safety of the youth using the Downtown Eastside park, located in a drug-infested area, was another worry, although he downplayed the concern. "Most of them are already skating downtown anyway. We're not creating a new hazard, but trying to minimize it."
McIntyre added that many people have the misconception that skateboarders are drug users.
"I'm not going to say that skateboarders don't do drugs, but marijuana is about as hard as it gets. This is a sport just like any other sport and you need to be in shape or you'll end up wrecking your body."
McIntyre said it's important to keep the park within the city core because it teaches young, often at-risk youth, how to fit into a community.
"A lot of people were saying we should move it to the middle of nowhere. But if you leave it in the middle of the city, it makes them part of the community. What we don't want is a Lord of the Flies mentality where they're making all their own rules and feel like everyone is against them."
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