Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 22/05) - A city recommendation to build a skateboard park near McNiven Beach will grind to a halt if members of the Yellowknife Tennis Club have their way.

That's because two of the proposed sites are too close for comfort to one of their tennis court facilities.

"Two sites before you now, in our view will destroy the tennis courts," Mark Aitken, high performance co-ordinator for the club, told city council Monday.

Aitken said he realizes the skateboard park will likely face opposition anywhere in the city, but the tennis court at McNiven Beach is particularly sensitive because playing the game "requires quiet and focus."

Council is considering three locations for the park - two of them immediately next to the tennis court.

The other, which the tennis club says is still close enough to cause concern, is about 100 metres away on the Yellowknife Community Arena parking lot where the city keeps recycling bins.

Aitken is worried players and youth attending tennis camps will be "intimidated" by raucous activity next door should the city allow the NWT Boardsport Association and Facilities for Kids to build a park there.

There are approximately 280 members who belong to the tennis club including youths, although they say there are many other residents who also use the city's three tennis court facilities. The courts are open to the public on a first-come first-serve basis when the club doesn't have them reserved for tournaments and youth camps.

Boardsport estimates that about 200-300 skateboarders would use the park after it's built, plus another couple hundred BMX cyclists who would also use the facility.

Aitken said the club is also concerned about vandalism and skateboarders entering the tennis court and skating in there.

Another club member, James Lariviere, said the club is frustrated that they didn't find out about the skateboard park proposal until last May when they met with Facilities for Kids on an unrelated matter.

"The Yellowknife Tennis Club was never part of discussions and I think we should've been," he said.

He added that the club wants the area around the tennis court reserved for future expansion, because interest in the game is expanding.

The club suggested the park be located at the "horseshoe pits" near the arena entrance to the parking lot, although city officials say the ground there is unstable and not suitable for building concrete bowls and ramps.

Kevin Stapleton, president of Facilities For Kids, said they need a decision from the city soon if there is any hope of getting started on a park by next summer.

He said the tennis courts location is ideal because it's visible from Franklin Avenue and easy for all kids in the city to get to.

"If no is the answer, tell us where," said Stapleton.

"Without one, Yellowknife will wind up with no skateboard park and lots of vandalism."

The current skateboard park by Ecole St. Joseph has been a source of controversy ever since it was built in 1997.

Nearby residents and the school have complained frequently about fighting, alcohol and drug use, vandalism and littering at the park.

Stapleton said Boardsport and his group plan to erect lights and video cameras to ensure bad behaviour is kept to a minimum. He insisted that most of the park users are good kids who just need a safe place to bike and skateboard.

He told council no budget can be calculated until a location is known.

Council elected to keep the park within the McNiven Beach and arena area, but want to give it another week before making a final decision, which will likely put the park by the recycling bins or horseshoe pits.