Newmarket skateboarder Jonathan Dimmell waited for an outdoor skate park in Newmarket for over a decade.
That became a reality when the town officially opened the new facility Aug. 30 outside the Magna Centre, bringing new and longtime skaters alike to enjoy the first-of-its-kind outdoor space in Newmarket.
But Dimmell, 30, said one key feature that older skaters are looking for is missing: lights. It is something that he said he tried to emphasize during public consultation, including it in every piece of feedback that he could.
“At every single point, I said 'lights at the skate park, lights at the skate park',” he said, adding that it would give adults a time to skate. "You don’t have little, younger scooters getting in your way and it's kind of just a more relaxed environment where adults can get their time in."
The park includes conduits that could have lights in the future, but the lights themselves were not included in the project's scope. As is, the park essentially becomes unusable at nightfall, making it difficult for adults to get to after work during the shorter fall days, Dimmell said.
He said about half of other skate parks in York Region have lights. He added that lights could be available in a time-operated fashion, as in other parks, with a limit of around 11 p.m. before they shut off.
But lights would come with an approximately $175,000 to $200,000 price tag, according to the commissioner of development and infrastructure Peter Noehammer.
“Newmarket’s outdoor skate park was completed within budget with light conduits installed to allow for future light installations that would be subject to budget/council approval,” he said.
Approximately $1.95 million was allotted to build the park in the 2021 capital budget.
Recreation has been a focal point in recent municipal budgets, with the town spending millions on several new facilities, including Mulock Park.
But the town is bracing for a budget squeeze this year as inflation pressures hit the municipality.
Although Dimmell said that some might see lights as a needless expense, he argued that “sports and recreation should have the budget to be able to do this stuff.”
Noehammer said part of the decision on lights will come down to demand.
“The town may consider public consultation to determine the desire for after-dark usage of the skate park and potential supervision, prior to lights being considered,” he said.
Barrie skater Tyler McLeod, who visited Newmarket’s new facility, said Barrie’s park has a good night crowd, thanks to lights being available.
“It’s good for some of the older guys. You're working all day and you can’t get here during daylight,” he said.
He added that Newmarket’s facility “is probably the nicest skate park in the area,” but “looked uncompleted” without lights on the poles.
Dimmell said he wants to push hard on the issue and is planning to start a petition.
“I’m going to do what I can to make sure the people know this is something that is needed.”
