Jasper’s new skatepark just got a $50,000 boost from Alberta Blue Cross as part of its 2024 Built Together grant program.
The skatepark was one of five projects that were selected out of 115 applications from across Alberta.
“We cannot express how grateful our committee is to be the recipient of Built Together during this difficult time in Jasper's history,” said Darrell Savage, president of the Jasper Skatepark Committee, in a news release. “We know that Jasper and its visitors will greatly benefit from this facility for decades to come.”
Funded by the Alberta Blue Cross community foundation, the grant program supports infrastructure projects that foster active living. Each year, projects are selected for Edmonton, Calgary, a secondary city, a rural community and an Indigenous community.
“As a champion for well-being, Alberta Blue Cross has supported more than 50 community infrastructure projects across the province over the past 11 years through our Built Together grant program,” said Alberta Blue Cross spokesperson Brian Geislinger in the release. “This includes playgrounds, bike and skateboard parks, multi-use sports courts and rinks, outdoor gyms and walking trails.”
In an interview, Savage said the $50,000 will go toward paying back the Municipality of Jasper, which had agreed last year to provide a loan of up to $150,000 to backstop the fundraising shortfall for the new skatepark.
The committee also recently received $3,300 from CN Railroaders in the Community, as well as a $3,000 grant from Trans Mountain toward a grand opening event for the skatepark.
For years, the committee has been actively fundraising for a new skateboarding facility to replace an underused baseball field at Centennial Park. Construction had already begun when the wildfire hit town last July. While the site was undamaged, construction was temporarily halted.
Savage estimated the project was about 57 per cent complete and was hoping construction would resume in April when the frost melts. It would then take seven weeks until the project is completed in June.
“It’s in everybody’s best interest to get this done as quickly as possible,” he said, noting the main challenge would be housing the workers amid Jasper’s housing shortage post-wildfire.
Savage added the opening of the new skatepark will give residents something to smile about amid the ongoing recovery.
“I think in some ways it's really good timing because we just need something to bring our spirits up,” he said. “I'm happy for Jasper that they'll be able to enjoy this new facility during a tough time.”
The other projects being funded through the 2024 Built Together program are an accessible playground at Norwood School in Edmonton, a dementia-inclusive park in Calgary’s Dover neighbourhood, a playground at Salt Prairie in Big Lakes County and an accessible playground in the Stoney Nakoda First Nation reserve of Big Horn.
