Bringing people together to fix up the Whitecourt Skatepark

The Whitecourt and District Action Sports Society is a newly created society with one big goal in mind: revitalizing and maintaining the Whitecourt skatepark. The board is made of people from all walks of life, including parents, sports enthusiasts, and residents that see the benefit in doing work to such a well-used community space.

“Our current goal is to have the concrete resurfaced and add signage, benches, and art instalments. This would improve the safety of the park and help support the youth who participate in action sports such as skateboarding, scootering, and BMX,” explained society member Stephanie Currie Black. “Thanks to a generous sponsorship agreement between the Town of Whitecourt and Re/Max Whitecourt, we are close to reaching our goal, but we still need to fundraise for a significant portion of this development and future expansion plans,” she added.

Black explained that the society members continue to work with the Town of Whitecourt and other local community sponsors to raise funds needed to fulfill their goals but are also looking to the community. “We need support from community members and families who use the park. There are plans to implement programs to support our youth such as bullying and graffiti prevention, demos, and potentially scholarships in the future.”

The group will be raising money by taking part in the Community Clean Up Fundraiser on May 28-29. The Town of Whitecourt initiative allows non-profit organizations to clean up areas of the community and receive funding for their programs in return. Each group must provide at least twelve volunteers and contribute a minimum of 100 person-hours of clean-up to receive a payment of one thousand dollars per group. “We need some volunteers for it. We will have several ideas for upcoming volunteer opportunities, too,” said Black.

The once smooth concrete surface is no longer as it once was, posing a potential safety hazard for the many who use the skatepark. “It gets worn and chipped away. This wear makes it difficult to land jumps and poses a potential for bodily injury to the riders. We have already secured a quote and construction date from the original builders of the park,” said Black. Now they need the funding to go with it.

Black said they need between seven thousand and ten thousand dollars in monetary or in-kind donations to complete this summer’s planned renovations. The hope is to begin next month. Needs for the project include lumber for the art installations and benches, which they will speak with the high schools about building. “We are going to have a big party at some point this summer, so we would need a BBQ and food, and it would be great to do a raffle or auction or door prizes at that event,” she said.

“We are so excited to help restore the park for the youth and families who use it. Some of our current board members were a part of the original group who brought this amazing skatepark to life when they were youths themselves. We really want to encourage the users to take pride in the park and feel a sense of ownership in it. “

Donovan Pronovost was a big part of the original skatepark project and now shares his love for skateboarding with his kids. He is also the society’s treasurer. In a recent post on the Whitecourt Action Sports Society Facebook page, Pronovost said raising the money and doing the renovation is “an investment in the youth of Whitecourt and area.” He spoke of having proper receptacles for recycling and garbage and adding things for “beautification and aesthetics,” such as adequate lighting and a freelance art wall. “But we need your help! Whether you own a local business or just want to reach out to the local youth and help out a good cause, we are looking for donations to cover various construction costs. Anything could help and would be greatly appreciated,” he typed.

Anyone interested in supporting the cause and being a hero to local enthusiasts who call the Whitecourt Skatepark their refuge is asked to call Donovan Pronovost at 780-286-9434 or emailing whitecourtactionsports@outlook.com. Community members are invited to join the Whitecourt & District Action Sports Society page on Facebook.

Those interested in donating their time to help the society collect garbage and earn money through the Whitecourt Community Clean Up on May 28 and 29 are encouraged to reach out to Stephanie Currie Black at 780-396-9078.