Winnipeg, MB - Today, officials from the Province of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg officially opened and dedicated the Justin Einarson Memorial Skatepark in Fort Richmond Park alongside members of the community.
“The Justin Einarson Memorial Skate Park is being named for a hard-working young man from south Winnipeg who liked to spend time with his friends, play music and skateboard,” said Fort Richmond MLA Sara Guillemard, on behalf of Indigenous and Municipal Relations Minister Eileen Clarke. “We are proud to have supported this project, along with the City of Winnipeg and generous donations from the community and the Einarson family, to make this neighbourhood an even better place to live and raise a family.”
“What better way to honour Justin then to dedicate this skatepark in his memory,” said Janice Lukes, City Councillor for South Winnipeg - St. Norbert Ward. “With so many new amenities, this park will be a gathering spot and a fun way to stay active for many Fort Richmond young people in the years to come.”
The skate park has been expanded and renamed in honour of Justin Einarson, a teen from the community who used the skate spot regularly before his death in 2014. New features at the skate park include the skate spot itself, a net climber, a new picnic shelter, and plaza and pathway improvements.
The Justin Einarson Memorial Skatepark is a Building Communities Initiatives (BCI) II project that received $58,000 in support from the Manitoba government and the City of Winnipeg in addition to $30,500 from the City of Winnipeg’s Parks and Recreation Enhancement Fund. The Einarson family also contributed $6,700 to the project fundraised with GoFundMe by the community.
The BCI partnership is a multi-year cost-shared capital initiative developed jointly by the Manitoba government and the City of Winnipeg. BCI II will provide $23.8 million to support community revitalization through improvements to 121 local infrastructure initiatives in targeted older neighbourhoods and contribute to the vitality, safety and health of communities throughout the city.
Phase One of BCI II provided $10 million between 2010 and 2014. All 38 of these approved projects under the first phase have been completed.
Phase Two of BCI II will provide an additional $10 million between 2013 and 2016. An additional 51 projects have been approved under Phase Two, with 27 having been completed so far.
Phase Three of BCI II will provide an additional $3.8 million. 60 per cent of the funding for this phase is provided by the City of Winnipeg and 40 per cent is contributed by the Province of Manitoba.
BCI II projects include improving athletic fields, playgrounds, skate parks, spray and splash pads, basketball and tennis courts, lighting, seating, pathways in parks and upgrades of community centres.