Aviva money for skateboard park

Yorkton skateboarders are smiling after the announcement last week the city will receive $150,000 from Aviva Community Fund Contest toward a new facility.

"We were the grand prize winner. We were the only community that won $150,000," said Dave Nussbaumer, the man who initially spear-headed the local effort through Farrell Agencies.

Nussbaumer explained there were initially 2,000 submissions for Aviva funding from Communities across Canada, with 900 making the initial round of Internet voting by the public.

"Then it got whittled down, and whittled down some more," he said.

The Yorkton project made it through two rounds of voting, to make the finals where projects were judged.

Nussbaumer said he knew the community had put forward a good effort, but added "I did not think in a million years we get it all."

That said, Nussbaumer said, "I did know we had the right project, and the right team."

Speaking of a team, Nussbaumer said a few days into the semi finals the Yorkton project was well behind in the voting. That was where a number of local businesses and organizations came to the forefront.

Yorkton Concrete, Dairy Queen, Yorkton New Holland, the Yorkton Exhibition Association, Cornerstone Credit Union, Yorkton Business Improvement District, the City of Yorkton and Farrell Agencies donated money to fund an advertising campaign to get people voting.

A video prepared as part of the project was also a big part in catching the judge's attention, suggested Nussbaumer.

The production highlighted Premier Brad Wall, Olympic gold medalist Joan McCusker, Mt. Everest climber Dave Rodney and National Hockey League player Jarret Stoll supporting the skateboard park with the song Forever Young playing in the background.

In terms of the contest, Aviva, an insurance company distributes $1 million to projects across Canada each year. A portion of the funding goes to applications made through agents like Farrell Agencies, which spearheaded a proposal asking for $150,000 through the Broker Supported Category.

The project will see a facility valued at at least $300,000 constructed as part of the Brodie Avenue Redevelopment since the City of Yorkton had pledged to match the Aviva money if the local effort to win the contest was successful.

While the park is being termed a skateboard facility, it will be developed to allow for BMX bikes and rollerbladers, and the surrounding area will be a park for everyone's use.