Nathan Grayston was one of the local volunteers instrumental in bringing a new skateboard park to Yorkton.
Those efforts were recently recognized when Grayston, 21, was presented the Volunteer of the Year Award by the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association.
The award is presented to a volunteer to recognize outstanding achievements in the improvement of recreation and leisure opportunities at the local level, including but not limited to, volunteer efforts in the last 12 months. The nominee's achievements should promote the value and benefits of active living and support a healthier future for their community.
"It was quite surprising," offered Grayston. "They told me I was nominated back in the springtime."
This fall a letter arrived telling Grayston he would be the 2012 recipient.
"I was quite shocked, and very honoured as well," he said. "It just kind of came out of the blue."
Grayston called the award "icing on the cake," noting "the real reward is already in place. The skateboard park is there."
Grayston said it was a special moment when he learned the local project had won the Aviva Community Fund money which insured the skateboard park would be built.
"That was insane. It's hard to put into words, getting the end result from so much hard work," he said.
The park is one Grayston said the community should be proud of, adding it is nearly everything he envisioned.
"It's one of my favourite parks, and I've skated a lot of parks," he said.
And the new park has had the desired effect of spurring growth in the sport in the city too.
"We've seen a big rise (in skaters) already this summer," said Grayston.
At the former park at the Gallagher Centre Grayston said a busy day saw 20 skateboarders. It's not unusual to see 40, or 50 at the new facility.
"That's a large increase in users," he said, adding when there are such numbers the park is overly crowded.
Grayston said he is among a group already looking at how best to expand the park, in particular creating an area for younger skateboarders.
As for his efforts as a young volunteer, Grayston said it has paid dividends beyond a new park and the award, in terms of "the connections I've made, the people I've gotten to know.
"It's been nothing but rewarding."
