Residents will get to enjoy the Oliver dog park and Small Wheels skatepark longer into the evening hours, thanks to a community initiative that has the two side-by-side parks lit up.
“Our dream of lighting up the Small Wheels Park in Oliver to extend the hours of use in the winter months came true,” said Carol Sheridan, Oliver parks and rec manager.
“This is going to be a game-changer for the youth in this community,” she added.
Thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Oliver for their financial support and Dean Malmberg of Argon Electrical and Solar Services for installing the lights, this project was ‘truly a community initiative,’ said Sheridan.
“Parks and rec approached me about lighting up the dog park (which is beside the skatepark),” said Argon owner Malmberg. The dog owners who enjoy the off-leash park pooled their money together to have lighting put up at the park so they could be there longer during the winter, he said. The lighting also offers a safety component for all.
“The group raised $2,500 and I applied on their behalf to receive $1,000 in Fortis rebates,” said Malmberg.
Now the whole park can be enjoyed longer into the evening with an added safety component, he said.
This isn’t the first time the community has come together to improve Lion’s Park. In 2019, the Small Wheels Park won the BCAA Play Here $100,000 award. At the time, the skatepark was showing its age, and needed a total overhaul.
READ MORE: Oliver skatepark wins $100K remake
Argon Electrical and Solar Services is a family-run business in Oliver that has worked with the Town of Oliver on several projects as well as bringing solar power to homes, businesses and wineries in the area.
“A lot of the wineries, like Burrowing Owl and others, have been forward-thinking and environmental stewards by using solar energy at their wineries. But homeowners and small businesses can too,” he said.
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