Discussions

Looks like after going through the primary planning stages, the concept drawings are going to be unveiled Thursday morning for the new Skateboard Plaza. It should be interesting to see. It sounds like a lot of planning has gone into things and that a high profile firm has done the design. Here's the presser from the City...  
 
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Brandon’s Skateboard Plaza  
at 10:30am, June 21, 2007  
Corner of 9th Street & Princess Avenue  
(Southwest Corner)  
 
Please join us at the former Prince Edward hotel site for the unveiling of the concept drawings for the Skateboard Plaza.  
 
Background Information  
 
In Brandon’s Community Strategic Plan, as a community we stated our vision to be “Brandon will be a vibrant and collaborative community that builds upon successes to shape a solid foundation for the future.” Part of our success as a community is in our understanding of where we have come from, in celebrating our history and in learning how we can translate the challenges of the past into opportunities for the future.  
 
The Skateboard Park Committee has been working over the last year to identify an appropriate site and design for a skate board plaza. The services of Van der Zalm and Associates, Inc., New Line Skateparks and Scatliff+Miller+Murray, the designers of the Forks Skate Park, were acquired to develop a design that would not only be suitable for boarding, but that would recognize the heritage of the site, that would be esthetically pleasing and that would assist in transforming and rejuvenating our downtown. As part of the design work, meetings were held with area residents, with youth of all ages and with other interested business and groups to gather input that has formed the basis for the design that is now being unveiled.  
 
“The youth of our community were clear in their desire to have the park recognize our heritage, that it be designed to be shared by all (not just the active skateboarding group), that it have elements for all levels of skill and that it incorporate green space so that it had a feel of a park”, according to Jordan Ross, committee member.  
 
“This is a significant milestone in having a project that promises to revitalize a once significant corner of Brandon’s downtown area by providing not just the look back, but a look going forward.”, comments Marlow Kirton, committee member, “This is a project that our community can all embrace, because at it’s very core it is about providing a safe and meaningful opportunity for our youth to enjoy our community.”  
 
The next phase of the project will be fundraising and the application of grants. The committee is actively seeking opportunities to get local businesses or service groups involved through financial support and in-kind contributions to the project. For additional information regarding how you can get involved contact Cathy Snelgrove at 729-2145.