The construction of a new skateboard park in Drumheller is one step closer to being a reality.
    At the meeting of the Drumheller Town Council on Monday, August 26, Council voted 5-2 in favour of granting the use of the land north of the fountain to the Drumheller Association of Skateboard Enthusiasts (DASE).

Gavin Pittman, Nick Sereda, and Katlyn Davies, members of the Drumheller Association of Skateboard Enthusiasts (DASE), standing on the location for the town’s new skateboard park. Drumheller Town Council voted 5-2 in favour of granting DASE the land immediately north of the fountain. It is expected construction will begin next year.

    “It’s great that we have a location nailed down. We can start moving forward,” said Nick Sereda, a member of DASE.
    Now that a location has been finalized, DASE will undergo an extensive design phase, with construction slated for the summer of 2014.
    During the design phase, DASE plans to consult the community and neighbouring stakeholders. Afterwards, DASE will ramp up fundraising efforts.
    “We’ll get the community involved to help come up with the design. Once we have a design, we can finalize the fundraising,”
    DASE has been working over the past several years to build a new, modern skateboard park in Drumheller. The goal is to provide a safe, visible place where skateboarders and others can congregate.
    “The whole idea of the skatepark is that it’s not just skateboarding. You have a lot of other things using it, like BMX and mountain bikes, roller blades, and other things,” said Sereda.
    “Maybe all those people who have hung their skateboard up in the closet, because there wasn’t anywhere to ride, will give it another try. It’ll also be good for the up and coming youth, who will finally have a place to get into the sport.”
    However, not everyone is sold on the skateboard park’s location. Councillors Lisa Hansen-Zacharuk and Doug Stanford, though supporting the construction of a skateboard park, felt another location would be better and voted against granting DASE the land.
    “I’ve heard a lot of concerns about how close the skatepark is to the existing fountain,” said Hansen-Zacharuk, who also expressed concerns over the location’s proximity to the Gordon Taylor Bridge underpass.
    Stanford was concerned about congestion and how the skateboard park would affect future development in the area.
    “I strongly believe in the skateboard park, but I honestly don’t believe in that location. There are many things there already. You add these things up and future development, and it eats up a lot of room,” said Stanford.
    Concerns were raised by Councillor Sharel Shoff over the potential expansion of the Aquaplex. Town Administration suggested a review of all future development plans for the area.
    For now, DASE will concentrate on designing the park with New Line Skateparks.
    “We had to go through a lot of hoops to make it work,” said Sereda. “It’s going to be a really good thing for the community.”

    Albertans are being urged to take precautions when heading outdoors.
    The Government of Alberta has confirmed two cases of West Nile Virus in Southern Alberta, both of which occurred in mid-August this year.
    “This is a reminder to Albertans, particularly seniors, to take precautions when enjoying the outdoors. Wear insect repellent with DEET, wear long-sleeved, light coloured shirts and pants, wear a hat, and consider staying indoors at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active,” said Dr. James Talbot, Albert Chief Medical Officer of Health.  
    West Nile Virus is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. After being bitten, those infected with the virus can develop West Nile Non-neurological syndrome or, more rarely, the more serious West Nile Neurological Syndrome.
    The symptoms for the non-neurological syndrome include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, skin rash, swollen glands, and headaches.
    The neurological syndrome can induce tremors, drowsiness, confusion, swallowing problems, high fever, unconsciousness, paralysis, and even death.
    Nine cases of West Nile Virus were reported in Alberta last year, of which one resulted in death.