COMOX, B.C.– The Town of Comox will be looking for a location to add a skatepark and bicycle skills park to the area.
Council voted in favour of getting public engagement to determine the location and design of the park. The decision was made after council got the results of the Comox Youth Recreation Report.
The report provided recommendations for outdoor recreation and parks infrastructure for youth 12 to 18-years-old, according to the town.
Trampoline parks, a skatepark, bike park, dirt jumps and other obstacle course-like parks were some of the top high-energy options for improvements, according to the report.
The report also found 43 per cent of respondents were involved in unstructured outdoor activities.
Comparable communities in B.C. like Nelson, Smithers and Campbell River, have skateparks along with bike skills parks.
The report adds the skatepark could be located on Noel Avenue at the Village Park area. It could involve moving the disk golf course, and have an estimated cost of $1.5 million to $2.5 million depending on the construction and elements included.
The bike park could be located in the Northeast Woods, according to the report. The town says it could cost between $180,000 and $500,000, compared to Nanaimo’s Stevie Smith Bike Park which cost around $413,000 to build in 2016.
Comox mayor Russ Arnott says the town is looking forward to finding a place for the developments.
“We are committed to working through the recommendations highlighted in the Comox Youth Recreation Report,” said Arnott. “It is exciting to explore potential site options to begin further discussions that would bring these much-loved active amenities to our community.”
The town thanks School District 71, Phil & Jennie Gaglardi Academy and Ecole Au Coeur de l’ile. They also thank the youth involved in planning, implementing and decision-making activities for the project.
