Aviva Canada Inc. contacted the Town of Pelham today to re-confirm their $115,000 of Aviva Community Fund support for the Isaac Riehl Memorial Skate Park. Aviva clarified that their support will not be jeopardized by the Branscombe Family’s recent rejection of construction at Fonthill’s Harold Black Park.
While Aviva prefers that the Town complete the skate park by September 2013 – so that they can highlight the project at the launch of the 2014 Aviva Community Fund – the
agreement with the Town extends until December 31, 2013.
“We are so relieved that the Aviva Community Fund reconfirmed their support of the Isaac Riehl Memorial Skate Park,” said Mayor Dave Augustyn. “We are heartened by their flexibility and their ongoing generosity. The community wholeheartedly embraces this skate park and Aviva’s adaptability allows us to proceed.”
The skate park design was well under way and construction was expected to begin in coming weeks. Because of the Branscombe Family’s recent rejection, the Town has been forced to act quickly to re-evaluate other potential sites and redesign the park for a new site.
It is anticipated that the Town can still meet the timeframe for completion of September 2013 regardless of the new location.
A site re-selection meeting has been called for Wednesday evening (June 5). Isaac’s parents, local skate boarders, an Aviva Insurance Broker, and representatives from Pelham’s sport clubs, local Service Clubs, and the Niagara Regional Police, will use a comprehensive site identification and evaluation process to select best remaining location for the skate park. Council will review their recommendation on June 17, 2013.
More than $143,000 has already been donated and much more pledged toward the community project; this includes the highly publicized Aviva Community Fund Grant and the “Be Riehl, Be You” t-shirt campaign spearheaded by 9-year-old Sam Reynolds. As a way to honour Isaac’s memory, the Town also promised to match all contributions.
For more information, please contact:
Dave Augustyn, Mayor
(905) 892-2607 ext. 317
Darren Ottaway, CAO
(905) 892-2607 ext. 318
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