Jennifer Geens
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 28/05) - The new skateboard park is another step closer to becoming a reality.

Jordan Martin instructs Mathew Rivet, David Maguire and Jody Doherty on putting together a skate ramp, during improvements to the then five year-old skateboard park in 2003. - NNSL file photo

The proposed site at the horseshoe pits between Yellowknife Community Arena and Franklin Avenue underwent a geotechnical survey over the summer.

Before the horseshoe pits were built there, the site was essentially a swamp.

Spectrum Skatepark Creations, the Vancouver company that will design the new park, is analyzing the results, said Kevin Stapleton of Facilities For Kids.

"Once we get information back from them as to whether that site is viable, then we'll know whether we're moving ahead there," said Stapleton.

In the meantime, Facilities For Kids is busy pursuing sponsors for the project.

The current skateboard park near Ecole St. Joseph opened in 1998. From the outset, neighbours of the park complained of noise, litter and vandalism. In June, three locations in the vicinity of the arena and the pool were considered, but the Yellowknife Tennis Club said two of them were too close to the tennis courts.