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Local skateboarders looking for legit place to get gnarly

Local skateboarders and their parents want a safe and fun place to skate in Point Roberts.

“This really started with my kids driving me crazy,” said Helena Biga Furno who is organizing the effort to build a Point Roberts skatepark. “It’s something they’ve done for years and I see the trend getting stronger and stronger.”

Especially with the closure of PACE, Furno said, trips with friends to Richmond, Ladner or Bellingham to use their skateparks have gotten less convenient. Meanwhile, places to skate on the Point remain limited – the Marketplace and Sterling Savings parking lots aren’t safe and businesses discourage skaters.

Furno has met with representatives from the local and county parks departments and park promoters and designers from B.C. and Washington. “People have been quite open to it,” she said.

Point Roberts parks board member David Niles said the parks department would consider providing property for the facility on the Benson Road side of Baker Field. “You want to make sure it’s visible from the road so police can monitor it,” he said. You don’t want it hidden.” He added that having emergency services next door was a strong plus for that site.
Furno said she had also talked to county parks officials about putting the skatepark at Lighthouse Marine Park between the parking lot and the boardwalk.

Preliminary plans are for an in-ground concrete design, but Furno said plans could change as they learn more about construction and maintenance costs. “Right now we’re just at the ‘we want a skatepark’ stage,” she said. ‘There’s still a lot more to figure out.” She is also looking into grant funding for the project.

Furno is looking for people to help with planning and fundraising for the skatepark. “If anyone has any ideas, any input or just wants to get involved, call,” she said. She can be reached at 945-1206.

A public meeting to get more people on board is planned for this spring.

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