Vancouver Skateboard Coalition

Looks like trouble’s a brewin’ over at the Park Board. Some staff members aren’t happy, and now we aren’t either. Why? Because on Monday (March 10th) at 7pm, the Park Board is holding a meeting to approve the current draft of the 2009-2011 Capital Plan… a plan that doesn’t include any funding for a new skatepark (look at page 3 near the bottom). What happened to the Park Board’s Skateboard Strategy?

When the Skateboard Strategy was approved in October 2005, Quilchena (Vancouver’s newest skatepark) had already been built. In 2006, when the Park Board told us that they were “leaning towards” bulldozing the bowls at China Creek, we were repeatedly assured that China Creek would be quickly replaced by the new skateparks that the Skateboard Strategy would be bringing to the city. And now they’re proposing a budget that completely cuts us out until 2011?

Want to do your part to help out Vancouver’s skateboard scene? Of course you do. So come to the Park Board Administration Office (2099 Beach Drive) on Monday, March 10th at 7:00pm. You also want to personally tell them what you think, so register to speak by calling the Board Secretary at 604-257-8451 before noon on the day of the meeting. The Vancouver Skateboard Coalition will be there and we’d love to see as many of you out as possible.

It may be a rumour, I just don’t know, but perhaps, just perhaps it may be newsworthy. I’ve heard it on the grapevine that if you turn up at Whistler dressed up as Old Saint Nick that you might get comped a free pass to shralp the mountain. Oh crap, I typed “whistler santa” into Google and there was an article on the Whistlerblackcomb.com site about it all. It’s true. Sorry for the suspense there. Get your free ride in and dress like Santa, its simple as that

My letter and Ms Kim’s are in today’s issue, as well as a letter from a neighbour, Hilda Nanning, who still needs to be won over. As for Hilda’s concerns about a skatepark being so close to a daycare, being a China Creek neighbour myself, I’m more worried about the junkies that shoot up in the daycare’s playground, then about some toddler getting stoked watching Chris doing a blunt fakie.

Remember the meeting tomorrow.This is it everyone, come on out if you can make it. Show some support.

7pm at the the Park Board Administration Building, 2099 Beach Drive. Call ahead to register to speak.

Also, I just spoke to Alan De Genova this morning, he told me to tell everyone to keep up the letter writing to Parks Board. He said it is absolutely imperative to keep city staff and Parks Board commissioners on board. pbcomments@vancouver.ca They don’t have to be long letters. Just keep writing……

This is a GREAT time to write the Park Board Commissioners and tell them all the good reasons to keep China Creek Skate Park. This is the address to write to so all the commissioners get your note: pbcomments@vancouver.ca

Use the address above to reach the commissioners directly.

There is a meeting of the Park Board Planning Committee at the Park Board office on December 5th. This is a sub-committee meeting that deals specifically with planning and China Creek is on the agenda. This is not the Park Board meeting where the final decisions will be made – that meeting is slated for some time in early 2007. BUT, since it is ultimately the Commissioners who will decide the fate of this park, and they will be given a report by the planners and board members who are on the planning committee, NOW is a good time to get your two cents worth in there – before they all make up their minds!

Then of course we all write again in the lead up time to the final decision meeting in the new year. Write on!

The rain miraculously stayed away today and skaters, neighbours, bikers, babies, dogs and grandmas showed up and partied down at China Creek this afternoon. Parks Board politicians Spencer Herbert, Al De Genova, Loretta Woodcock and Korina Houghton also came by and checked out the action.

Continue reading “Props to China Creek Supporters” »

It’s coming up to a busy weekend for the Vancouver Skateboard Coalition and our supporters… China Creek Appreciation Day on Saturday and another event at Leeside on Sunday. A collaboration between the Coalition and the Leeside Stewardship Group, “November Rain” is going to be a reminder of how cool Leeside will be when it finally gets finished.

Continue reading “November Rain at Leeside” »

China Creek Park Appreciation Day: THIS SATURDAY, November 18th.

1-4pm with Skate Jam and Prizes happening at 2pm.

Coffee, Hot Chocolate and Tents in place in case it rains.

This is a chance to come and get everyone stoked on China Creek – Parks Board Politicians will be there.

Sponsored by the Coalition and Neighbours in Support of the Skatepark.

Photo courtesy of www.coastalbc.com