Governments vow joint action on skateboard park
City and territorial officials say a meeting between them about the future of the Second Heaven Skateboard Park in Riverdale proved to be productive.
City and territorial officials say a meeting between them about the future of the Second Heaven Skateboard Park in Riverdale proved to be productive.
An open session on the issue between the city and territory had been set to happen at city hall at noon last Friday.
Anyone who turned up for that meeting, however, was informed it had actually been rescheduled for earlier in the day, and wasn’t happening at city hall.
No notice had been sent out to inform the public of the change.
This morning, the two governments sent out a joint press release describing it as a “successful meeting” on the proposed location of the new French first-language high school and the “potential implications for both governments.”
The francophone school board selected the skateboard park as its preferred location for the new French-language high school to be built.
The park is on land that is designated as educational reserve, with the entire area stretching from Selkirk Elementary School to the park.
At a meeting of council last month, Education Minister Doug Graham, along with a number of park supporters, addressed council on the issue and the need for a new skateboard park to be in a highly visible location, easy for youth to access.
Mayor Dan Curtis took issue with Graham’s presentation, pointing out the territory had not responded to the city’s request for a meeting on the plans for the site.
Graham responded at the time that the city had only provided two options for a meeting time, both of which were booked, but a meeting was soon arranged for May 22, then rescheduled to last Friday.
This morning, Curtis said the meeting time was again changed along with the location.
The session included council, the three ministers involved (Graham, Highways and Public Works Minister Scott Kent and Community Services Minister Currie Dixon) and administrative staff for both governments with a focus on a number of issues that will have to be dealt with.
He pointed out an open house to be hosted by the Yukon government is slated for the fall, which will provide residents with an opportunity to have their say on the plans.
“We really needed to hone in on what was happening (for that site),” Curtis said, stressing the city was able to bring up concerns around traffic and infrastructure on the property.
Before any development permits could be approved by the city for the site, he noted, there would need to be a traffic study and work to deal with area infrastructure.
Last week’s meeting provided the city with an opportunity to state those concerns, he said.
Kent, who chairs the Educational Reserve Planning Committee, said in the statement this morning: “The planning committee has been meeting since last fall to plan for future flexibility in the area. As the chair of this committee, I was happy to share a report of our work with Mayor Curtis and councillors.
“It quickly became clear that there is technical work that the committee had identified that we can work on together.”
Curtis said he’s pleased that city and Yukon government administration will be working together as possible plans for the area move along.
“We have asked our officials to work together to address technical issues related to the location of the new francophone high school, including traffic and underground infrastructure issues.
“We are pleased to know that (the) Yukon government will hold a public meeting in the fall to share the outcome of the technical review and discuss the next steps.”
Comments (10)
Up 7 Down 0
whatajoke on Jun 5, 2015 at 10:58 pm
The only reason the skateboard park is being discussed is because they want to build a new school on that site.
If the location of the new french school is already set in stone to built at that site, then there are bigger issues concerning Whitehorse/Riverdale than the skate-park relocation. It's so bizarre, it almost seems like a political diversion tactic, but it's probably just the sincere product of idiocy and terrible planning.
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Suggestion on Jun 5, 2015 at 4:38 pm
Put the skate board park back of the RCMP building a little to the south. It would be central for users and the cops could keep a wary eye on the facility.
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Matthew johnson on Jun 4, 2015 at 4:13 pm
@why bother.... why did you bother? You are aware that the skateboard park is used by more than just skaters? Rollerbladers, bmx, scooters even the odd Mt bike use the park. As for the location, many of the users come from underprivileged families that can't afford organized sport let alone transportation. The location of the skate park is critical to these groups, it absolutely needs to be in the downtown core, I think shipyards is an Ideal location. In my opinion, your opinion means nothing if you won't stand behind it with your real name. It is cowardly this age of anonymity, I'm not sure why I bothered....
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Why bother on Jun 3, 2015 at 10:32 pm
I'm not so sure we need bother with a skate board park. Just try walking or driving downtown these days. On separate occasions, both on Main Street, my driving passage was interrupted by a skateboarder. On one occasion, at 4th and Main, the boarder was in the middle of a lane of traffic, going the wrong way, and against a traffic light. Fortunately, I was paying attention, and driving in accordance with the rules of the road. On a different occasion, at 3rd and Main, traffic was held up by a skateboarder going back and forth across the crosswalk without regard to traffic or the pedestrians using the crosswalk. And on another occasion, as I was walking along the sidewalk on Main Street, two skateboarders went whizzing by on either side of me, completely startling me. Fortunately I did not veer in either direction, or there would have been a collision.
I quite frankly do not see any justification in any of my tax dollars going to a skateboard park -- and certainly not in the downtown core.
Up 21 Down 1
north_of_60 on Jun 3, 2015 at 6:58 pm
If another school must be built, it should be located on the south side of the new school.
For many good reasons the skate park is a very poor location for another building.
Doesn't the City have a planning department that looks beyond the term of the current administration?
Up 32 Down 2
Whistlebend for the school on Jun 3, 2015 at 2:16 pm
My vote - for what it's worth - is to put the school in Whistlebend and leave the skateboard park where it is
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Wayne on Jun 3, 2015 at 11:02 am
Rest assured, the school won't be built in R'dale. What R'dale doesn't want, R'dale doesn't get. The converse is also true.
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Jim Lahey on Jun 1, 2015 at 4:20 pm
More back room deals. Don't worry, they will hold a fake public meeting about it and pretend to listen to people's concern. Even though the decisions will have already been made. Pathetic.
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Yukoner on Jun 1, 2015 at 3:52 pm
This is total BS if this is built in Riverdale then they need to put in a new bridge - we can't afford it as the city bailed out Mt Sima and the gov wants to spend 8 mill on a running field. Put the school somewhere else or make sure it comes with a bridge - there is already to much in Riverdale.
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June Jackson on Jun 1, 2015 at 3:26 pm
Not much came out of this really.. except everyone has agreed to play nice again.
I don't care where they put the skateboard park as long as it's not in Rotary Park..