When the two Sechelt Rotary Clubs decided to tackle the job of restoring the Sechelt Skate park, next to Chatelech High School, we didn't quite realize just how much we had bitten off. Thankfully, local businesses and friends stepped up to help. We learned a valuable lesson from this: It may take a village to raise a child... but it also takes a village to restore a skate park.
The first step was clearing away a jungle of blackberry bushes. Members and friends of the Rotary Club of the Sunshine Coast and the Sechelt Rotary Club spent several days hacking away bushes that seemed to grow back as quickly as we chopped them down.
Meanwhile, Bob Michor (second from right) and a crew of older skaters began removing damaged concrete.
The first of our 'village' helpers soon stepped up. Rent-It Canada donated concrete cutting equipment and other necessary tools.
After a logging family on the coast donated a couple of rails, Spani Developments sent over a crew to build a frame for the new rails.
Students from Chatelech High School under the direction of student teacher Emily Gray (second from right) were eager to start painting new murals at the park, and another 'village' business, Cloverdale Paint, donated all the supplies they needed to get started.
Meanwhile, Dayton Point, General Manager of Gibsons Building Supply also got in on the project, donating bags of concrete crack sealer and the tools needed to apply it. He grew up skating at the park, so it was a project near and dear to his heart.
One day while volunteers were working at the park, we had a very pleasant surprise. Joe Buffalo, a professional skater and actor, visited the skate park to honour his friend Mike Evans, a legendary local skater who died in 2019. Here's part of an email he sent us after his visit:
“My name is Joe Buffalo. I am a professional skateboarder and actor from Samson Cree Nation in Maskwacis, Alta. I’ve been skateboarding for 35 years and have been skateboarding all over North America and have seen my fair share of rugged historical skateparks. I would have to say that the one in Sechelt is by far the most unique park with the most character.
One of my favourite skateboarders was from Sechelt and after going there for the first time recently, I know why he was that good! It felt like such an honour to be able to skate there in memory of him.”
One of my favourite skateboarders was from Sechelt and after going there for the first time recently, I know why he was that good! It felt like such an honour to be able to skate there in memory of him.”
One of the final pieces of the project was smoothed into place when Central Coast Concrete sent a cement truck and crew to pour new concrete around the new rail and replace damaged sections of concrete.
Please go up to the park sometime to check out the work we have done. The new murals are spectacular, the surfaces are much more skater-friendly and the new rail is adding an exciting new challenge for skaters at the park.