Bowden Community Action Society treasurer Pat Filipenko says the committee has a plan to solve a complaint about the new skatepark: noise.
Filipenko says the committee plans to have spray foam installed underneath the quarter pipe and pyramid.
Filipenko made the announcement during Bowden town council's regular meeting Aug. 25.
The issue came up after resident Kevin Halliday, via email, complained to Mayor Robb Stuart about noise generated by the skateboard park.
“I bought the house at 2311 21st Street thinking it was a nice, quiet neighbourhood. That all went out the window when the skatepark came in,” Halliday wrote. “I can't even use my backyard in the evening; it sounds like they are crushing cars across the street. It baffles me that council would approve a bunch of ramps and jumps made of sheet steel. It didn't dawn on anybody that it would be loud?”
Filipenko said his committee has checked into the complaint and determined the park -- where the quarter pipe and pyramid are -- does indeed make noise.
“It's such an open vacuum underneath there, it does reverberate for a lot of us,” he said.
“We're going to get spray foam underneath. Hopefully that will quiet it down. That will also help the people around the area for it so they're not worrying about all the noise and stuff,” Filipenko added.
“I agree with them and so does everyone else on our committee who has gone over there; it is noisy, so that will be taken care of.”
Stuart wondered when the spray foam will be in place.
Filipenko is hopeful it will be installed by the middle of this month. He noted the committee plans to hold one work bee Sept. 5 and another Sept. 12.
“We would like to get it done tomorrow if we could, but (we'll get it installed) as soon as we can,” he said.
Coun. Sheila Church asked if anyone knows of someone who sprays foam in areas like that.
Coun. Wayne Milaney said he knows of a firm that can do that and promised to provide a contact number.
“I don't think it's going to be hugely expensive,” Filipenko said.
“They won't be there half an hour,” Milaney replied.
Coun. Lloyd Lane said the skateboard park has been no problem for him, adding that's pretty impressive, given the fact there's no formal supervision there.
“I live two houses up,” he said. “I haven't heard or seen a dust-up of any kind.”
However, Church heard someone broke a bone. Stuart agreed, saying someone broke an arm.
Stuart said the skateboard park has had a positive effect on the town.
“I don't know if you people have noticed, but the skateboards and the bikes and stuff are no longer on Main Street anymore,” he said.
Councillors indicated the street was “hazardous” as a result.
“At this time last year it was just a disaster,” Church said.
Stuart contrasted the skateboard park in Bowden with one in Calgary. He said in that city, the people who use the park during the day are “pretty good.”
However, “at night a different crowd comes there and they end up kicking these skateboarders out. There are a bunch of fights,” Stuart said. “The police are actually asking for more manpower to police that.”
“We've been extremely fortunate, and that's due to the people who live close to it being active -- and the kids themselves,” he added.
Milaney said council should look at creating some kind of plaque of appreciation for all the work the committee did to create the skateboard park.
“It was a tremendous effort. It was a dream a year ago and now it's reality,” he said.
“We've been talking about a skatepark for eight years,” Stuart pointed out.
Milaney suggested the idea of an appreciation plaque could be discussed during council's next meeting.
