Tolko Industries Ltd. has donated $40,000 to the Meadow Lake community for the development of a new skate park. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Elliott Knopp

Skate Park Donation

Meadow Lake receives $40,000 grant for skate park development

Oct 5, 2021 | 2:19 PM

The City of Meadow Lake is set to receive a significant financial contribution that will help provide the community another site for outdoor recreation.

In September, a spokesperson with Tolko Industries Ltd. wrote a letter to council explaining the company would grant the city with a $40,000 donation for the construction of a skate park in Lions Park.

During the latest council meeting, officials discussed the terms tied to the donation and whether it would be suitable for the city to accept the offer.

Earlier in the meeting, council voted to adopt a new sponsorship policy that granted the Parks and Recreation Department with more say on sponsorships. However, any naming or title arrangements would still require approval from council.

Parks and Recreation manager Regan Beck explained the grant provides his department with critical component to the foundation of the skate park’s development.

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“It gives us the opportunity to lay the groundwork, start the planning process and come up with the design,” he said.

“Hopefully, this motivates other businesses and community organizations to get behind the project and realize this is going to happen. We are immensely grateful to Tolko for looking into the Parks and Recreation Department.”

In return for accepting the offer, the city would also agree to incorporated Tolko into the name of the park, notify the company of the name and agree to it prior to the name being used.

A sign is to be posted at Lions Park by Nov. 30, 2021 to identify the site as the future home of the skate park with the approved park name.

All Tolko logos on any media or signage will require approval for use by Tolko.

The city is expected to establish a media campaign with local media which will include pictures of a cheque presentation.

Finally, if skatepark construction has not started by the end of 2023, the city is required to inform Tolko, at which point, Tolko will retain the right to retract its offer and receive a refund for the full amount.

The total cost of the project is expected to reach between $300,000 and $400,000.

The Meadow Lake Action Park committee is expected to host fundraisers and seek grants to help make up the remaining costs.

A cheque presentation is scheduled to take place at Lions Park on Oct. 14 at 4 p.m.

meadowlakeNOW reached out to Tolko Industries for a comment, but did not receive a reply by the time of publishing.

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elliott.knopp@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ElliottKnopp