City of Belleville Introduces Newly Renovated Kiwanis – Kingston Skate Park | The Canadian News

Canadian Olympian pro skater Annie Guglia, along with pro skater Adam Hopkins and 11-year-old skateboarding phenomenon Fay Defazio Ebert, got a taste of Belleville’s newly renovated Kiwanis Skateboard Park.

Defazio Ebert, a member of the Canadian national skateboard team, says there is nothing better than being in a skateboard park.

“I like to fly, go big, go fast. I don’t know it’s just the feeling, ”says Ebert.

Belleville City Councilman Garnet Thompson says plans to renovate the park began with an email and phone call he received last March from the candy company Mentos.

Thompson says the skateboard park was finally decided as a project worthy of partnership.

“And then it led to, let’s say, let’s add a basketball hoop, let’s add two basketball hoops,” says Thompson.

Mentos spent between $ 50,000 and $ 70,000 delivering the park with a unique twist, with a centerpiece called the ‘basketbowl’.

Another national member of the Canadian team was present, Adam Hopkins. He says this new addition is the first he has seen.

“I have seen basketball courts where they will incorporate shelves, benches, as small skatable features as multipurpose spaces where they share the court. I’ve never seen it in a bowl like this. It’s definitely something new. “

Annie Guglia is an Olympic figure skater. She says that regular users who practice in the bowl will be full of fun.

“It’s definitely unique and it’s a fun thing to practice. Skating is for fun, so basketball is for fun too. “

Locals who use the park also enjoyed seeing a new feature.

“Most skaters probably play basketball too, so it’s kind of cool to mix them up and it’s nice to just get more people to the park,” says Matt Munro, a recreational skater.

Eddy Clare says, “Seeing him at the skate park, it’s a little different but it’s really cool at the same time. It brings a variety of people, which is great and that’s what it’s all about.

“Get some exercise, that’s why we are here.”