LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Walking down the hallway of Thomas Simpson School on April 9, skateboard slung over his shoulder, Grade 11 student Tyler Jumbo could barely contain his grin.

"I can't believe it's actually happening," said Jumbo, certainly looking happy.

Tyler Jumbo, a 19-year-old skateboarder in Fort Simpson, greeted news that the village will finally install a skate park behind the recreation hall in June with much excitement. - Guy Quenneville/NNSL photo

It was Jumbo's birthday that day and he had just received an unexpected present: after years of waiting, the village confirmed that a long-planned-for skate park is scheduled for installation early this summer.

"They've been trying to get it going for as long as I could remember. It just never panned out," said Nathan McPherson, the village's recreation co-ordinator.

McPherson arrived in his job with one goal in mind: to finally use the $50,000 set aside by the village and bring a skate park to Fort Simpson kids.

The skate park, which will be located at the former tennis court behind the recreation hall and beside the yet-to-be-completed new community pool, will include a five-foot-high quarter pipe, a five-foot-high bank and a pyramid-shaped island complete with stairs, ramps and rails.

"From my understanding, the park is done and we're waiting for the ferry to come in," said McPherson.

The park is being shipped up in pre-fabricated pieces from a Burlington, Ont.-based company called Canadian Ramp Company, which has built some 1,000 parks throughout the country.

"It just needs to be shipped up and put together," said McPherson.

While no skateboarder himself, McPherson - who started as recreation co-ordinator in January 2009 - is just as eager as the skateboarding community to see the park come alive.

"I'd like to get it in as soon as possible so that we can have a grand opening of June 1," he said.

The Liidlii Kue First Nation has stepped forward with a donation to help the village with the cost of the park, but would prefer to keep the amount secret for now, added McPherson.

"They want to do a big thing, give me a cheque. We'll maybe do a little ribbon-cutting thing - the mayor, the chief, hopefully, if they're available at the time."

For many years, skateboarders have, in the absence of a real park, skated wherever they could around town.

"Tennis courts, the roads, sidewalks, anywhere that it's clear," said Jumbo, admitting that safety issues such as passing vehicles do arise "here and there."

"But we usually say, 'Car!'"

McPherson said the park will remove those fears for good, finally giving skaters a place to call their own.

"It is a safer place," he said. "They have their own designated area. It helps the community look a little better because in the summer you'll see makeshift ramps and stuff. Picnic tables (upturned). There'll just be wood all over the place. It just kind of looks a little rough.

"If they had their own skate park, they wouldn't have to build their own ramps."

But even with the new park, don't count out some additions, said Jumbo.

"I'll probably add to it here and there. Some low boxes, here and there."