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Once a long-shot request from a citizen made during a town hall meeting a few years back, North Bay's All-Wheel Park now has the financial backing of the City of North Bay and other stakeholders in the project.
North Bay City Council has approved the award of a contract to New Line Skateparks Inc. for $1.6 million for the design and construction of the All-Wheel Park, which will include a skatepark and pump track, will be located adjacent to the Multi-Use Courts near the City’s Peter Reid Transit Terminal.
Councillors gave a nod to Marty Simard, who introduced the all-wheel park concept a few years ago, in approving the contract during Tuesday's regular meeting. Simard's son had been using pump tracks outside of the city. The pump track name comes from the pumping motion made with the upper and lower body as users ride around the track. The track is designed so the pumping motion maintains speed around the track without pedalling. Users can ride not only with bicycles but also with skateboards, longboards, skates, and scooters.
“It’s exciting to see another project from the Downtown Waterfront Master Plan become real and take shape,” said Coun. Justine Mallah, the chair of community services. “The All-Wheel Park will be an accessible and inclusive space that will provide recreational opportunities for all age groups and abilities.”
The request for proposals for the design and construction of the project closed in March with two bids. Officials say work will get underway this summer. Staff will be working with the New Line on a detailed project timeline. and more details will be available in the next couple of weeks. The expectation is that work will begin this summer, starting with design followed by completion in 2024.
The all-wheel park concept consists of a plaza-style concrete skate park, a pump track, a social/event plaza and a washroom facility. The all-wheel park will be located on the lakeside of Municipal Parking Lot 10 connecting with the multi-use courts. It will be accessible with seating areas, lighting, and landscaping.
Due to the specialized nature of this project, a design-build model, in which the design and the construction services are awarded to a single entity called the Design-Builder. The report states, "In this method, the Design-Builder will engage with the City and stakeholders to develop a design that meets community needs and the available budget. Once the design is finalized and accepted by the City, the contract proceeds into the construction services phase."
“The addition of the All-Wheel Park in this location will further enhance the Downtown Waterfront,” said Coun. Lana Mitchell, chair of infrastructure and operations. "This new outdoor recreational facility will provide skateboarders and pump-track enthusiasts of all ages a place to practice and enjoy their sport.”
The project is being supported by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, which is providing $801,198, as well as the Kiwanis Club of Nipissing, which is contributing $100,000. The funding agreement with Kiwanis was also approved by the council on Tuesday.
