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Central Saanich ready to support new skate park

Council’s liaison to the committee, Carl Jensen said at this point they are still looking at funding options.

The terms of reference for a SkatePark Development Committee have been approved at Central Saanich council’s meeting on Jan. 11.

Council’s liaison to the committee, Carl Jensen said at this point they are still looking at funding options.

The project has been spearheaded by the Central Saanich Lions Club, who had looked into grants in 2015, but were not successful.

“So it’s going to be a question of looking at next steps of where can we look for funding and trying to find out how we can help facilitate making that happen within Central Saanich,” Jensen said, “because they’ve been a driver for this and we’d like to support them with that.”

The group’s first meeting will look at what the next steps are but no date has yet been confirmed.

A former skate park was at the tennis courts in Centennial Park but was removed when the new playground was put in. One location considered is still within the Park, but behind a batting cage. Jensen said there was some discussion of a site at Stelly’s Secondary School, but council likes Centennial Park mainly because of its accessibility and central location between Saanichton and Brentwood Bay.

Jensen said he’s happy to be involved. He said he remembers he grew up at a time before they had skate parks in communities.

“I mean I remember when I was young and growing up in Tsawwassen, we didn’t have a skate park ... So we’d be at the library, we’d be at the Baptist church, wherever we could find some concrete ...”

Jensen said he hopes to be a champion when it comes to the council supporting the park.