The Town of Qualicum Beach will begin building a new skatepark for the community in 2025.
Council supported, at its regular meeting on Nov. 20, a staff recommendation to award the construction of the project to New Line Skateparks, who presented an estimated total of $1,300,000, excluding GST.
When the project was first proposed, the price tag was estimated at $1.5 million which was included in the 2025-2029 Financial Plan and expected to be allocated in the 2025 budget. A request for proposal (RFP) was issued last September to find out if there are contractors who can complete the project with a budget of $1.3 million.
The source of funding for the project includes $500,000 from a developer's Community Amenity Contribution (CAC) and $700,000 will be coming from the BC Growing Communities Fund. The user group, Qualicum Beach Skaters, made a commitment to raise $300,000 and to date, via grant applications and fundraising initiatives, have raised closed to $100,000.
Director of planning Luke Sales informed council that despite not having all the funds in place, including those from the CAC and from the user-group, they recommend construction of the skatepark but at a lesser cost.
"The project that was initially envisioned with the Skatepark Conceptual Report we received earlier this year, that project is feasible with a budget of $1.3 million," said Sales. "So, staff are recommending with move forward with the design-build contract with New Line Skateparks."
The contractor will build the facility with the proposed $1.3-million budget. There will be some adjustments made to the design said Sales, to make it work. However, if more funding comes in, Sales said under the design-build contract, they will have the option to amend the design.
"The skatepark user group is still raising money and now that we are in a position to potentially advance the project next year, they can go for a last big push to obtain some in-kind donations or corporate donations," said Sales. "So, that flexibility still exist if they raised another $50,000 for example, then it would be a $1.5 million contract."
Council also approved staff recommendation for early approval of the $1.5-million budget to get construction underway soon next year.
"I like the fact that we have allocated $1.5 million and it could be less, which is a good thing as opposed to keep adding money because of the project running over budget," said Mayor Teunis Westbroek. "So, this is a good thing. Our share stays the same but allows them to add to their fundraising."
Coun. Anne Skipsey endorses the construction of the skatepark sooner.
"I don't support delaying it because I have seen what happens if you delay capital projects," said Skipsey. "What seems to happen in most cases is the cost only goes up. I think that proceeding with this at this time, is probably not a bad idea."
The existing skatepark located near the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre was constructed 25 years ago and has reached the end of its user-life. Users of the facility deemed the skatepark unsafe and outdated.
