Push for skate park

– Tania Martin
SKATERS could soon have a gnarly park if the people of Mt Evelyn agree to new plans.
The park has been in the pipeline for more than five years but every time the Shire of Yarra Ranges suggests a site, residents reject it. The shire has allocated $120,000 to construct a skate and BMX park for the youths of Mt Evelyn.
Billanook Ward councillor Tim Heenan said it is time to make a decision and give the youths of Mt Evelyn a skate park.
A town meeting will be held this Thursday, 5 October at the Mt Evelyn Public Hall at 7.30pm to discuss the concept design and location of the park.
Cr Heenan hopes that the townspeople will support the new site for the skate park at the netball courts on the corner of Birmingham Road and Gardner Parade.
The new site is the fourth place that the council has presented to residents with the first three being rejected.
Cr Heenan said townspeople refused two of the sites because they didn’t want a skate park so close to their homes and the third one was knocked back because the police felt it was too far away from the centre of town.
“Police would ideally like to see it close to town and public transport,” he said.
Cr Heenan is inviting all Mt Evelyn people to come to the meeting and see the shire’s plans for the park and have their say.
“I hope we can get a resolution on the site for the park.” he said. “The youths of Mt Evelyn deserve to have a skate park.”