When the idea of establishing a skatepark in Mount Currie popped up earlier this year, nobody in the community expected one to be set up this quickly.
HUKA Entertainment, producers of the revived Pemberton Music Festival in July, announced earlier in August that the skatepark equipment set up on site during the festival has been donated to Mount Currie.
And the timing couldn't have been better, as community leaders had already been investigating the possibility of establishing a skatepark in the months leading up to the donation.
"We've been working at fundraising and trying to get people who have knowledge in that area... to be willing to help out," said band Councillor Dean Nelson. "Originally, we were trying to put together a concrete (facility) like our neighbour in Pemberton, and that didn't really happen. Then all of a sudden, this thing just fell in our lap.
"The price was right," Nelson added with a laugh.
Nelson said that after he found out the equipment might be available, he quickly got in contact with HUKA officials, setting the wheels in motion for the ramps and rails to come to Mount Currie.
The equipment has been temporarily installed at Mount Currie's New Site, next to the outdoor rink, and has been a huge hit with local youth, said Nelson.
"They think it's awesome," he said. "It's something different and it happened all of a sudden.
"They're pretty excited about it and thankful for the people who donated it."
During the festival, the skatepark was a side project of rapper Tyler, The Creator, who designed the pop-up facility that was situated near the west campground exit. A HUKA spokesperson said the company originally was not aware that Mount Currie was interested in building a skatepark of its own, but once Nelson expressed interest in the equipment on behalf of the local youth, they were happy to see it go to a good home.
"Once we learned there was interest from the First Nations community, everything fell into place," said a written statement from HUKA officials. "It was always our intention to donate the park to a local organization and Tyler was very active in those discussions."
On top of the fact that Mount Currie youth no longer need to travel down the highway to Pemberton to access a proper skatepark, Nelson said it's great for them to have a facility they can put their stamp on.
"It's something they can call their own and fix it up however they want," said Nelson, who also expressed thanks to HUKA officials for helping to bring the equipment to Mount Currie.
"It's a pretty nice setup."
