Editor:
Re: Petition launched to light up Queen's Park skateboard park at night
I’m a 27-year-old up-and-coming female park rollerskater living in Burnaby. I’ve been using Queen's skate park for three years. At least three times a week, if not more, weather depending. This park has a beautiful community of people of all ages and all different skills and backgrounds. I have never felt so safe and welcome in a skate park like this one.
I feel the city doesn’t seem to realize that this space helps a lot of people’s happiness and mental wellness beyond what they see as just “skating.”
As much as they don’t know the importance of putting lights in right away, there are at least 15 folks who will benefit from this every night if they do. In the winter, the sun can go down as early as 4 p.m. Many of these people are youth, wanting a safe place to go to let out their energy healthily and pursue their skills.
I understand funding and cost, and not everything can be done at once, but I feel the city is overlooking how important lights are in this community and for this skate park. I hope this becomes a priority for the New West because so many would benefit from this.
Lanna Thornhill
