PRO Award of Excellence
Thunder Bay received the PRO Award of Excellence in Design for the Marina Skateboard Plaza. TBSC members Pia Erkkila, Chris Bayko, David Vass, and Myles Cizmar accepted the award last month at the ceremony in Niagara Falls
In 2005, the City of Thunder Bay began working with a group of youth interested in improving a neighbourhood-based skateboard park. Back then, six of the city’s seven skateboard parks were designed for more introductory levels of abilities and a small number of participants, and the seventh, more challenging park was deteriorating and out of date. The group formed the Superior Skateboard Coalition (later renamed the Thunder Bay Skateboard Coalition) and with the City’s support, decided instead to spearhead the construction of a new, larger, safer park with elements for skateboarders, BMXers and inline skaters of all levels of ability.
The location selected for the park was Prince Arthur’s Landing at Marina Park, a 40-acre waterfront park that had already been identified as needing extensive revitalization. Following some well-attended public open houses and design workshops that provided critical information and feedback, the hard labour soon commenced, ultimately resulting in a world class skateplaza that integrates function and versatility with a unique design that includes a “Classic California” style pool bowl, three dynamic public art projects, new landscaping, and seamless integration of the conplete development into that surrounding park and trail system. The plaza opened in June 2009 and is now a hub of local youth activity.
http://www.prontario.org
http://tbsc.ca/gallery/?album=5&gallery=5
