Skateboarders, scooter riders and cyclists will have a new facility to call their own in Corunna Athletic Park later this year, as St. Clair Township council has approved construction of a $200,000 above-ground skate park in the northeast end of the park.
The skate park was proposed by a local group in July 2021, the Corunna Skatepark Committee, who advocated for the construction of a 7,200-square-foot facility that would include features such as stairs, rails, ramps, half pipes as well as a separate pump track for cyclists.
After the group promised to raise half of the cost of installation, council searched for bids to build the park and the Canadian Ramp Company submitted a bid for $200,000. Council agreed to pay half the costs and give the Corunna Skatepark Committee five years to raise the remaining $100,000.
Council also agreed on April 4 to a request from the group that a memorial plaque in honor of late Corunna resident Darren Turner be installed at the skate park.
The skate park was approved as a capital project for 2022 and is expected to be installed later this year.
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Plans for the construction of a new all-season gender neutral washroom facility in Courtright Park were discussed at council’s April 4 meeting.
John Dobson and Cathy Vickerd spoke about their plans to install a permanent washroom in the park, as well as the installation of a clock tower at the site. They asked council if the township would cover half of the estimated $200,000 cost, while they would fundraise to cover the other half.
“We’re proposing to put bathrooms in Courtright Park – there’s usually at least 80 people there in the afternoon, then you have the boat races, the fireworks and people start coming for lunch at noon,” Dobson said. “We took the clock out of the mall in Sarnia – it’s approximately 6 x 6 x 12 foot high, so on our proposal we wanted to use that as a centerpiece and put bathrooms behind it. It would be heated and there’d be time-locks on it so that we don’t have people sleeping in it.”
Deputy Mayor Steve Miller asked what would be included in the $200,000 price-tag.
“That would include all the services – gas, hydro, water, sewer, cement work,” Dobson replied. “We’d build it so that even kids can’t destroy it.”
Council passed a directional motion approving funding from the Environment and Education Fund, putting the incorporation of the clock tower and any additional costs associated with it to be the responsibility of the donors. They also instructed Dobson and Vickerd to consult with township staff to find a suitable design and location for the facility.
“If you guys could get together with Kendall (Lindsay, the township’s director of community services) there’s a directional motion from council and you guys can sort it all out,” Mayor Steve Arnold told the proponents. “Once that’s done you can bring it back to council and we’ll give it the thumbs up or thumbs down.”
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After over two years of virtual meetings, members of the public will be able to watch council in-person once again at their Monday, April 18 council meeting, which begins at 6 pm
With COVID protocols that restricted access to council chambers since March 2020 finally lifted, council agreed to make its next meeting at the St. Clair Civic Center open to the public.
Township Clerk Jeff Baranek said those planning to attend are encouraged to wear masks to the chamber, as social distancing might not be possible, though they are not required. All meetings will continue to be broadcast on the township’s YouTube channel for the foreseeable future, he added.