Elaine Moore (bottom row, second from right) attended the Grand Opening for the Curtis Marshall Memorial Skate Park, which is dedicated to her late son’s memory. Her sister Brenda (seated to her left) was also one of one of the lead organizers for the Skate Park committee. NSC Reeve Garrett Tomlinson and NSC Deputy Reeve Carolyn Kolebaba are seated to their left. In the back row, from left to right, are PR Deputy Mayor Elaine Manzer, PR Mayor Tom Tarpey, NSC Councillor Dan Boisvert, PR Councillor Colin Needham, PR Councillor Rod Burr, and NSC Councillor Marie Dyck. (Photo/Autumn Hulme)
The Curtis Marshall Memorial Skate Park had its official Grand Opening on Saturday in Peace River.
It’s open to anyone with a skateboard, roller skates, or a scooter. The park can be used from dawn until dusk.
Town Councillor Colin Needham, who delivered the speech for the town at the event, told the Trending 55 Newsroom it’s a great facility to have within the community.
“It’s great to have a pool of recreational activities for young adults and young families from right here in Peace River,” said Needham.
A volunteer decorates one of the walls located at the Curtis Marshall Memorial Skate Park. (Photo/Autumn Hulme)
He adds that it gives youth in the community something to do to keep them from falling into the wrong crowd.
“I think one of the things that was highlighted during the event was the protocols,” Needham said. “It refers to how you move through the skateboard park, and how you are courteous to other users, and how you revolve around the park so that there’s a proper circuit to follow, and that there’s some etiquette. While it seems to be a largely unwritten rule, it certainly seems to be well-organized and working.”
Needham says lots of thank-yous’ should be directed to the Skate Park committee for working for six long years in order to make this dream a reality.
“While the municipalities put some money into them, it was the committee who did all of the organizing, as well as the ground work,” he said.
Also on hand at the event were various councillors from the Town of Peace River (PR) and Northern Sunrise County (NSC), as well as Elaine Moore, the mother of the late Curtis Marshall.
Needham says anyone who wants to come to the park, regardless of age, is allowed to be there and have some fun.
“I’m pretty sure I somebody on a scooter that didn’t look any more than four years old,” he added. “And I even saw a gentleman out there who looked about 40 years old. So yes, this is a great facility all around.”
The Curtis Marshall Memorial Skate Park is located between the water park and the Peace River Legion building.
– Posted by BET
