Paris Optimist Skatepark expanding as phase 2 of project will get underway this year

By Casandra Turnbull

The Paris Skatepark will get an expansion this year and that’s good news for locals who use the popular park daily

Phase 2 of the Elm Street skatepark will coincide with the construction of a new concrete skatepark in Burford. Both projects spearheaded by each town’s Optimist Club. Transition Construction Inc. was awarded the Paris and Burford Skatepark Design-Build in the amount of $548,283.85 plus HST. The Paris expansion will cost $224,758 85 and since the expansion is due to growth, $122,500 of project funding is covered through development charges, according to County of Brant staff.

The Syl Apps Optimist Skatepark opened in 2012 after a successful fundraising campaign led by the Paris Optimists. When the plans were originally created, budget constraints did not allow for a bowl type feature, but there were plans to add this feature when the skatepark was expanded in the future. Other details of the expansion were not available in the Paris and Burford Skatepark Design-Build Tender Award report presented at the Administration & Operations Committee meeting last week. Although, it was noted that the Paris Optimist Club has raised $10,000 so far for site amenities such as additional benches and garbage cans.

When the skatepark is expanded, the ball diamond at Two Rivers Stadium will be decommissioned, however the greenspace will remain as parkland It was revealed there are plans to build a ball diamond to replace the Two Rivers Stadium in a new park to be constructed in the next couple of years, but details of when and where this new park will be located were not revealed.

The report noted that there are sufficient funds available in the 2024 Capital Budget for the construction of both skateparks in 2024.