Council accepts skatepark proposal

Yorkton Council has unanimously supported the recommendation of City Administration to enter into an agreement with New Line Skateparks for the design and construction of the new Yorkton Skatepark.

The Yorkton Skateboard, Bike and Walking Park Committee was awarded $150,000 from the Aviva Community Fund and Council approved matching funds of $150,000 as part of the 2012 capital budget. The Committee was also successful in obtaining an additional $50,000 from the Community Initiatives Fund for a total of $350,000 available for the development of the Skateboard, Bike and Walking Park as part of the Brodie redevelopment project, detailed a report circulated to Council Monday.

Working with the Skateboard, Bike and Walking Park Committee, administration completed the Request for Proposal (RFP) process for selecting the design build firm to complete the development of the skatepark.

"New Line's timeline for construction has the skatepark available as soon as the middle of August, pending approval of the final design," said Darcy McLeod, Director of Community
Development, Parks & Recreation with the City.

McLeod said they had interest from firms across Canada and the United States, actually receiving three responses to the RFP.

"The proposals were reviewed by members of City administration as well as members from the Skateboard, Bike and Walking Park Committee using a weighted scoring process," he said, adding the areas considered including similar project experience, fitting the established budget and timeline and a conceptual; plan meeting local needs.

Of the three proposals New Line Skateparks based out of Calgary was deemed the best at a cost of $349,610, said McLeod.

"New Line Skateparks has completed over 150 concrete skateparks across Canada, the U.S. and Europe over the last 11 years. They have experienced building concrete skateparks in a climate similar to Yorkton and in flood plains like the Brodie site. They have completed concrete skateparks in Winnipeg, Brandon, Swan River, Prince Albert, Regina and Lloydminster along with many others throughout Alberta and BC," he said.

They have experience implementing in-kind contributions of materials into the budget and construction process and either provide a credit or expand the skatepark accordingly. Skateable amenities like benches and garbage cans that withstand the rigors of a skatepark can also be implemented into the design. McLeod added the company has "a weather contingency plan to minimize the impact inclement weather may have on the timeline."