A local Ottawa skateboarder says his group that’s advocating for an updated skate park has made leaps and bounds over the last few months. Dick Chavez says his advocacy group has formed a committee that gets input from Community Development Specialist Tami Koppen and Parks and Recreations Board Director Alex Spencer. He also says the group has been working with a skateboard non-profit that could help improve the ramps at the skate park on Canal St. instead of moving to another park. He say the skate park could have been rebuilt at Lincoln-Douglas or Welch Park but it wouldn’t have been good for the skateboarding community.
The skateboarding group is now asking the Ottawa Parks and Recreations committee to approve digital renderings for the new park so they start applying for grants. The are also asking the city to apply for an Open Spaces Land Aquisition and Devlopment Grant to help pay for the revamp of the skate park. Some new additions to the park include a park for art to add to the Canal St. art walk project and a playground for kids.