The City of Fernie and Teck recently hosted a community celebration to officially open the City’s new “all-wheel” Fernie Skate Park.

The newly redeveloped Skate Park has been designed for a variety of “all-wheel” sports including skateboarding, inline skating, BMX biking, and scootering. It features accessible design and progressive features intended for all-ages, skills, and abilities to enjoy, making it an inclusive recreation amenity and community hub in the heart of downtown Fernie.

The redevelopment of the Skate Park was made possible by $1.28 million in provincial and federal grant funding through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

In addition, a $250,000 donation from Teck, $210,000 from the Province of British Columbia’s Resort Municipality Initiative and $100,000 from Columbia Basin Trust supported the development of the roof structure over a portion of the Skate Park. The covered area will further enhance accessibility for families and visitors by providing additional protection from weather,extending the park’s seasonality.

Following six months of community engagement on the design of the Skate Park, the city broke ground on the project last summer. With the finishing touches finalized this spring, the new “all-wheel” Skate Park is a milestone achievement in line with the City of Fernie’s goal of encouraging healthy living and community participation in recreational activities through accessible and inclusive amenities.

The new Skate Park includes:

• A fully accessible and inclusive all wheel park for public use
• A covered area to extend the use of the skate park in the shoulder seasons
• Progressive features to allow all-ages and abilities to safely learn and advance their skills
• Designated areas for spectators
• A central location adjacent to local trail systems, and connected to the downtown core and other recreation amenities
• Designed with environmentally sustainable elements, and landscaping
• Shade structures to provide protection from the sun and weather

Fernie Skate Park will become a hub for Fernie’s youth programming initiatives, community events, and local competitions.

To celebrate the grand opening of the Fernie Skate Park, the City of Fernie, Teck, Columbia Basin Trust, the province of British Columbia, the Canadian Government, and New Line Skateparks, hosted a grand opening event Thursday, May 16, for the public at the Skate Ppark.

The event was family friendly and will include demonstrations by semi-pro skaters and local talent,  live music, food trucks, prize draws and free swag.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the opening of Fernie’s new all-wheel skate park. This skate park was designed with extensive input from our community, and provides an inclusive space for skateboarders, BMX riders, and scooter riders alike to hone their skills and connect with fellow riders. We are grateful to our funding partners for their contributions, and are looking forward to the Fernie Skate Park becoming an animated recreation hub, and seeing the positive impact on our residents and visitors for years to come,” said Nic Milligan, Mayor of Fernie.

“Teck is dedicated to making a positive impact in the communities where our employees, and their families, live, work, and skate. We are proud to have worked with all partners to support the development of the new Fernie Skate Park, helping to increase more recreational hubs in the Elk Valley,” said Robin Sheremeta, President, Coal Business Unit, Teck.

Photos submitted

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