The controversial skateboard park underneath the bridge heading to Quest University gets another year to prove itself.
At the community development committee meeting Tuesday, council granted the Skateboarders Mason Association a one-year extension of its operating licence.
The association’s original one-year licence for the construction and operation of a recreational skatebowl under the west abutment of the Mashiter Creek Bridge was to expire at the end of this month.
Construction of the bowl took longer than originally anticipated and the bowl has yet to officially open, according to the district’s director of engineering Rod MacLeod. All that remains to complete the park is a handrail and some signage, he added.
“We’re there now and I am looking forward to the skateboarders and the community being able to use it and seeing how this thing actually functions within the neighbourhood,” said Mike Quesnel of the association.
The project has been controversial from the start. The skatebowl builders did not seek district approval before starting construction, and a handful of neighbours have vehemently opposed the project.
Maria Peterson, a neighbour to the skatebowl, which is called Slashitercove by its proponents, has been a longtime opponent of the project.
“The consuming of alcohol beverages in the skatebowl has been a continuing problem since day one and has become an even bigger issue these last few months,” she told council, adding people have been smoking at the site.
“The public drinking, smoking, cigarettes and pot as well as the use of other drugs [is] extremely inappropriate behaviour for the young and easily influenced youth who will be present at this bowl.”
Peterson and her delegation showed council photos of men urinating, drinking and smoking at or near the skatebowl.
As part of its motion, council asked staff to bring back to council a proposal for a washroom of some type at the site to help alleviate the need for people to use the bushes.
Only Councillor Doug Race opposed the extension. He also opposed the project in January of 2014, when it was originally proposed to council.
Race said his major concern is the park’s lack of visibility.
“Visibility to me is safety,” he said. He also expressed concern over putting any recreational site in that neighbourhood, “where it was not contemplated in the initial design.”
Councillors Susan Chapelle and Jason Blackman-Wulff both said the bowl will provide an all-weather place for youth to skateboard, and there is no such facility in Squamish.
“We all know in Squamish we get our fair share of rain and… this is why I think that is an ideal site,” said Blackman-Wulff.
The skatebowl was completed by professional builders and inspected by the Municipal Insurance Association, according to MacLeod.
In one year, a report about the park is expected to be presented to council.
