EDITOR,
Re. Controversial skatebowl under Quest University Bridge.
This project was found out and reported first week of January.
Individuals had been caught the second week of January been told to stop work. Stop work order was ignored four times. (Information from Jan. 21 council meeting). Does anybody else wonder why this was not taken down right then?
Now, in the process to get this legalized, a meeting was hosted. Notices to those living within 100 meters of project were handed out -nine houses in all. The room was packed with skateboarders. Forty per cent of the time was spent on presentation, 40 per cent on friends and business colleges trying to rebuild Quesnel's and his Skateboard Mason Association (SMA) character and promoting the skate bowl as the greatest new recreational facility in town. What a waste of time.
Parking was proposed on the Boulevard, Kintyre and a bus stops on Perth and at Quest. Strange, but the resident living there had not been invited to the meeting to have a say.
SMA had no solution to bathroom issues.
SMA will only take responsibility for insurance and liability on their skatebowl but not in the adjourning cliffs, waterfalls, and creek, where all the kids go to hang out. Possible injury, loss of life, damage to personal property will fall back on the taxpayer. There is no user fee on existing skate park.
SMA organization is bringing in a new crew of kids. How are they going to keep them from hanging out in the woods drinking alcohol, smoking, possibly setting fires in the dry forest? This proposed signage all over the neighbourhood and the green space under the bridge will not do the trick. Will SMA do the policing? Honestly, does this organization have the money for 24/7security?
If this project gets approved, is there enough money in this organization to put up some kind of allocation funds so the financial burden will not fall onto the taxpayer should Squamish Mason Association default on their project?
Asked whether he would pull out of the project if we built a roof over the existing skatepark, Quesnel answered: "I love my skatepark, I cannot even think about putting a truss over and I do not want to personally! I want to go there on a sunny day and enjoy it in the sun and get fresh air!
My neighbours and I love our gardens. We love to sit there and enjoy the sun. We love to listen to the birds and the waterfalls and breathe in the fresh air!
We do not want to listen to loud music, screaming kids and the banging of skateboards and worry about what is going on by the cliffs.
There's no way I will stand for this project having unsupervised kids skateboarding in this out-of-sight, unsafe place under the Quest Bridge. I do love kids and I have nothing against skateboarding in the right place.
Please not support this project and sent your comments as soon as possible to District of Squamish.
Maria Peterson
Garibaldi Highlands
Parking was proposed on Boulevard, Kintyre,the Bus stop on Perth and Quest University. Strange, the resident living there had not been invited to meeting to have a say.
