Trans Mountain and Strathcona County have signed a Community Benefit Agreement that will see a $225,000 investment towards a new skate park in the Hamlet of Ardrossan.

Originally signed in 2015, funds from this agreement have supported the skate park’s construction costs and will also support free activities and programs to be coordinated by Strathcona County over the next five years.

“We are committed to providing local and direct benefits to the communities the Project may impact during construction. This park will provide an important community amenity to Strathcona County by creating a gathering space for youth and families to be active outdoors,” says Siobhan Vinish, Vice President, Public Affairs, Trans Mountain Corporation.

The skate park is the first of its kind in Strathcona County’s rural hamlet of Ardrossan. Earlier this year, residents were able to provide input on the preliminary design concepts. The skate park is expected to open to the public this fall. In addition, as part of Strathcona County’s public art plan, artists Peter Gegolick and Shelby Willis have created a first draft of mural designs for the skate park, based on ideas submitted from local youth. For more information about the mural designs and opportunities for input, visit strathcona.ca/ardrossanskatepark or call 780.467.2211.

Image: 3D Rendition of the Hamlet of Ardrossan skate park in Strathcona County.

“Strathcona County is grateful to Trans Mountain for its support. This rural skate park will help our community build strong connections through recreation. This partnership enables us to provide additional free programming to youth enjoying the skate park,” says Strathcona County Mayor, Rod Frank.

Trans Mountain values the relationships it has built with communities along the pipeline corridor that span our more than 65-year history. We have signed Community Benefit Agreements along 95 per cent of the pipeline route, which help fund initiatives from education and training opportunities, to investing in infrastructure and park and trail improvement projects. The funds help to compensate for public inconvenience and temporary disruption caused during construction.

Strathcona County is part of Trans Mountain’s Greater Edmonton construction area, which includes approximately 50 km of pipeline construction, 14 trenchless crossings using horizontal directional drilling and the expansion of the Edmonton Terminal. Trans Mountain began construction at the terminal located in Strathcona County in July 2019, which includes four new storage tanks and four pumps added to the pump station. Pipeline construction began in the area in December 2019.