The following article appeared in the May 30 edition of the Guelph Mercury:
For the third consecutive year, local skateboarders will get a free ride this summer.
City councillors voted Monday night to spend up to $10,000 to rent The Ward Skatepark for July and August. It will be the third straight summer the city has rented the facility at York and Victoria roads to provide a temporary place for skaters to ride.
The city first rented the indoor park in 2010, after removing the outdoor skatepark from Deerpath Park amid complaints from neighbours about noise, vandalism and other issues.
The city is in the early planning stages for a new municipal skate park at Silvercreek Park, but it is not expected for a few more years.
Coun. Ian Findlay made a special resolution directing community and social services staff to identify and reallocate monies in the 2012 budget to rent the facility. He noted renting the skate park was included as a line item in the 2012 budget but did not get approved.
“What’s not going to get money so this gets money?” Coun. Cam Guthrie asked.
Colleen Bell, the city’s executive director of community and social services, said the city will use a council contingency fund established to cover unforeseen expenses.
The following article appeared in the May 30 edition of the Guelph Mercury:
Council heard that fund — which was similarly used to rent The Ward last summer — has a balance of approximately $14,000.
Bell said the owners of the skate park will not be surprised by council’s motion.
“We’ve been in discussion with them for several months,” she told councillors, who voted 12-0 in favour of Findlay’s motion.