ORIGINAL COMMITTEE


JUNE 2004 SKATEBOARD COMPETITION


DANCE & CONCERT




DESIGN TEAM



MADOC BUS TRIP GROUP

 

BEGINNINGS:
The County Youth Park project began in April 2004 holding meetings at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute, with dreams of building a proper skatepark in the County.

Under the guidance of members of the OPP, County Council, and Parks & Rec, sub-committees were formed to help organize our ideas and ensure the various aspects of fundraising and advertising were covered.

FUNDRAISING:
Fundraising events began to take place, initially with a skateboarding competition, and later, monthly dances at the Elks Lodge.

DESIGN:
By April 2005 the committee had raised enough funds to bring in designer Jim Barnum of Spectrum Skatepark Creations do design our dream park. A team of over 15 youth came to meet Jim and present their ideas for the future skatepark.

BUILDING MOMENTUM:
On April 30th 2005, we held our first fundraising concert, (Baunzi Kazooey Show).

Concerts, competitions, Monthly dances, and other fundraising continued to raise money and awareness for the project.

In August 2005, Buddha Dog approached the committee with the idea of having a hotdog eating contest in support of the Youth Park, which raised over $3,000 and has become an annual event.

In the summer of 2006 we brought two bus loads to visit the Madoc Skatepark and see how a small town of 2,000 people could complete a project like the one we want to accomplish.

As time passed Newspapers and Radio Stations began to air our progress, enhancing the status of the project even more.

Soon professionals from all over Prince Edward County were joining the committee.

SITE GRANTED:
In September 2006, the committee went before County Council to ask for permission to build the park on the land in front of the Picton Arena. Council voted unanimously in favour.

FUNDS GRANTED:
Once we had secured a site, P.E.L.A. granted us $20,000 to pay for site specific design engineering and fees.

In April 2007, Council approved to set aside $200,000 for the project to be distrubuted between 2007 & 2008.

NAME CHANGE:
In order to give the skatepark and family play area project the recognition it deserves, the project name was changed from "County Skatepark" to "County Youth Park".

PRESSING ON:
To date, the committee has raised over $510,000 and continues to move along with great strength and enthusiasm. Pending funds we will begin "site prep" in the fall of 2008 and complete the project by the summer of 2009.