Adam Prudhomme
Editor
A Tamworth mom and her teenage son are on a mission to bring a skatepark to the village.
Carolyn Sinclair and 15-year-old son Locksley have launched a fundraising campaign with the goal to raise $100,000 for a 2,500 square foot park.
“We are constantly driving all over to other skate parks, Madoc, Belleville, Napanee and every time we go to the Napanee skatepark we always see people from Tamworth there,” said Carolyn. “I just thought we’re all driving 25 minutes to go to this skate park, why can’t we have one in Tamworth where all the kids in Tamworth can benefit?”
When kids aren’t able to get a ride to Napanee they’ll often resort to trying to make do with any curb they can find, which isn’t always the safest.
Carolyn presented her idea to Stone Mills council.
“They were very supportive,” she said. “At this point council made the motion on the books to support the initiative on the basis that a suitable location could be found.”
Once a list of suitable locations are determined by the township’s parks and rec department, the volunteer run Tamworth Skate Park Committee will work to narrow it down to the best spot.
“We’re looking at a 2,500 square foot skate park and it could be a multi use pad as well, it could be used for skateboards, rollerblades, scooters, BMX bikes,” said Carolyn. “It’s not just for skateboarders per say.”
Fundraising is underway and the committee has already raised closed to $10,000, a good portion of that coming from a recent bottle drive that brought in over $1,666. The group has also launched a Go Fund Me page titled Tamworth Skate Part Initiative. They’re hoping to raise $50,000 by the end of the summer, which would go towards the design and construction of the park. Carolyn is also working with Lennox and Addington County’s economic development committee to explore possible grant options and will soon approach the province once they have more details finalized. A second bottle drive is planned for the Canada Day weekend and the group will also be selling baked goods during the Tamworth Lion’s drive-through barbecue, which will be held July 1 at the Tamworth ball diamonds from 4-6 p.m.
Updates on the initiative will be posted to the Tamworth Skate Park Committee Facebook page.
“It would be nice to provide a skate park where they could be independent and away from the parents and they could hang out with their peers and be active,” added Carolyn. “At skateparks they’re able to express their individual styles through skateboard or scooting and I think it’s really important for kids to be active. I feel a skatepark would really add to our community. I love Tamworth and I love everything it has to offer and a skatepark would just be the cherry on top.”