The City of Richmond is faced with three proposals from community groups to upgrade its parks, including a renovated playground in Steveston, a new skateboard park under a bridge and a baseball quadraplex in South Arm Park.
Richmond City Baseball Association (RCBA) pitched its proposal (report here) to renovate the fields behind Whiteside elementary at a recent Parks and Recreation Committee meeting.
RCBA executive members John Braaten and Dan Marriott told councillors that growth in the baseball program means the city needs better fields and a more robust baseball hub.
Their plan sees the association chipping in at least $20,000 to reformat the existing baseball diamonds in South Arm Park, adjacent to Whiteside elementary, into a quadraplex at the centre of the fields, with a concession stand in the middle.
It is unclear how much the city would have to pay to upgrade the facilities, ergo a feasibility study was ordered by councillors, who also expressed concerns about parking and the need to consult with community stakeholders, such as the Richmond School District and the Richmond Sports Council.
It is estimated by RCBA the field enhancements would increase foot traffic and participation to the park by more than 14,000 people each year.
Braaten and Marriot contended the facility would get more young kids playing baseball and noted the association has grown each year for the past three years.
Meanwhile, at the same meeting, councillors heard from two students, Thomas Love and Dalton Taylor, who both rolled out their proposal for a new skateboard park.
While the city has two existing skateboard parks on River Road and at Thompson Community Centre — they cater to advanced skaters and also have design flaws, noted Love.
Furthermore, the one on River Road is deteriorating and prone to slippery dew in the fall and spring, rendering it unusable, or unsafe, for the most part.
The two have pitched the idea of installing a new park underneath either the No. 2 Road Bridge or the replacement bridge for the George Massey Tunnel.
“A well-designed, covered, lighted skate park is good for families, the local community and supports Richmond’s urban vision,” wrote Love in a submission to the committee.
Another idea is to redevelop the River Road skateboard park by adding new features that will be friendlier to all ages and abilities and have “killer flow,” noted Love.
The presenters gave parks planners a few local examples of well-designed skateboard parks in the region and suggested they read the Tony Hawk Foundation Public Skatepark Development Guide.
Parks planners stated they had consulted youth and the community when the Thompson structure was built. The committee directed staff to examine potential sites and costs of a new skateboard park in the city.
The city will also be busy deciding the fate of Steveston Park’s playground.
After area residents (the Steveston Community Society) lobbied the city to undergo public consultation for a new playground, the city will now be holding open houses and online consultation at LetsTalkRichmond.ca.
The society will front $25,000 to match the city’s contribution to pay for the consultation, according to a report from the parks department.
“Information gathered during the March 26 session will help form a number of concept options that will be presented to the public for discussion and feedback,” the city noted.
The playground was last updated in 2003 at a cost of $636,000 and it’s believed a new playground would cost about $1 million.
The playground recently underwent some minor renovations on the hillside.
