An experienced rider gets some air at a newly unveiled skateboard park on Gabriola Island. (Quinton Dewing)

By Ian Holmes

new toy

New Gabriola Island skateboard park officially unveiled

May 28, 2022 | 5:24 AM

GABRIOLA ISLAND — A quaint village core on Gabriola Island has noticeably more life with a popular new recreational amenity now in place.

A celebration at Huxley Community Park on Saturday, May 28 from 12:30 p.m to 3:30 p.m. officially opens the new skateboard park, which is already a hit with local boarders and bikers.

RDN area B director and Gabriola Island resident Vanessa Craig said the facility has been well used over the past several weeks.

“I don’t think it could have had a warmer reception, it’s been a huge success. Crowds of kids and young adults and adults at the skate park,” Craig said of the new skate park featuring several bowls and jumps.

Due to supply chain challenges, Craig said a few minor supportive features are still no in place yet, including shade structures, a bench and landscaping.

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The two senior levels of government covered most of the costs, budgeted at about $775,000.

Craig said numerous improvements and additions to Huxley Community Park over the last several years were important investments to make for people of all ages.

“It’s really lovely to see. You go there on a day now there’s people using the tennis courts, there’s people using the skate park, there’s a child’s playground there, it’s a busy place.”

Work to complete the skateboard park and add a new parking lot began last September, following word more than a year earlier a required joint provincial/federal grant was successful.

Gabriola Island has its first ever skate board park, which has been widely used in recent weeks. (Quinton Dewing)

Establishing a skateboard park on Gabriola Island took several years to get to the construction phase after the idea was hammered out during a master plan process which launched in 2015.

Craig said the new skateboard park has attracted numerous visitors to the island.

She said broadening the amount of things for people to do on the island, especially for younger people, fills a critical void existing previously.

“Obviously we live in a beautiful area where there’s beaches and lots of opportunity for those types of things, but this type of infrastructure has been lacking on the island, it’s a really big addition to the island.”

The three-hour community celebration at Huxley Community Park on North Rd. will include a skate session and music courtesy of the local skateboarding community.

— with files from Jordan Davidson

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes