Town of Thorsby to scrap community skateboard park

THORSBY -- The Town of Thorsby is pulling the plug on its community skateboard park.

According to the municipality, the public amenity was purchased in 2021 at a cost of $32,000 as a way to provide a space for younger residents to play and partake in outdoor activity. The location of the current skateboard park had originally been home to a tennis court, which was paved over five years ago at a cost of $10,000. Fencing was also installed at an additional $10,000.

In a request for information (RFI) brought forward at the committee of the whole meeting on Feb. 10, Councillor Audrey Watson expressed the need for changes. In her report, she stated that the skateboard park is not being used, and that pieces of the park currently lay in unused placement. Speaking on the matter, Watson said keeping the skate park in operation will only result in more costs.

"I see what goes on there. The equipment is getting wrecked, it's falling apart, and we don't have any budgets to maintain it," said Councillor Watson. "To me, it has not been worthwhile to have. It's not regulation, and to keep it going it will need some work, and it will need work constantly."

While a specific plan for what the space could be converted into has not been finalized, Thorsby Council voted to dispense the skateboard park and engage with community organizations to see if any of them may want some of the park's equipment.