The Sooke Skate Park has been shut down for safety reasons and is expected to remain closed into next spring, when there are plans for an upgrade.
The facility was built in 1997 through the Rotary Club of Sooke and is run by the Capital Regional District’s SEAPARC (Sooke and Electoral Areas Park and Recreation Commission) Recreation Centre.
It was closed two weeks ago after problems including gaps and cracks between the skate park’s steel and concrete, as well as chipped concrete and surface degradation were discovered in a CRD assessment.
The closure generated negative comments on social media from people who say it can still be used.
Sooke Mayor Maja Tait said the park is popular and well-used but has “reached the end of its useful life.”
Recreation centre manager Melanie Alsdorf said the closure is disappointing, but “our number one priority is having safe facilities and revitalizing the skate park is a high priority.”
The current cost estimate for refurbishing the park, including demolition and dealing with drainage, is $1.1 million.
Sooke plans to go through an alternative-approval process, which can be used by local governments instead of a more-expensive borrowing referendum.
While a referendum needs a 50 per cent plus one vote to succeed, the alternative approval system requires at least 10 per cent of electors to sign a form opposing borrowing for it to fail.
“It is a quicker way of doing this,” Tait said.
A design concept for the park has been developed through a public workshop and surveys, with Radius Contracting leading the effort. The company says it has 18 years of experience in building skate parks.
On its website, the CRD said there are two design concepts, including a “basin” layout that reaches more than two metres deep and a flowing “wave” design with two distinct areas and a tunnel.
Features such as more lighting and a covered area are also being considered.
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