Here's what more folks have to say about the Annapolis Youth Park:

I think this is a great idea; healthy for the kids. It is time that there were some facilities for young people in the town and area. Good luck with the project

Carole Milligan
Annapolis Royal

I think you should know and be very proud of the fact that Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor mentioned you and the children in her official speech at the Heritage Builders' Ball I was chairing for the Annapolis Heritage Society this past Saturday night. She talked about the extraordinary community spirit in Annapolis Royal - she had been at the How Garden Party put on by the Historical Association, and then went to the Skate Park and then came to the Ball, so she must have seen 400 people in one day! Anyway, she went on at great length about how amazing it was to see these kinds of things happening in a such a small town...the preservation of the old, and the promise of the new. She particularly mentioned how charmed she was to see mothers and babies and little kids and older folks working on the skate park. She was hugely impressed. Anyway, wanted to share that with you... great project, great people, and great respect for your effort from the Lieutenant Governor. Congratulations!!

Jane Nicholson
VP, Annapolis Heritage Society

I want to thank you all for your hard work thus far on the ongoing skateboard park project. I believe that the skateboard park will be a wonderful addition to the recreational facilities in our town. I believe it is a much needed outlet for youth and will serve to benefit youth and the rest of the community in many ways. It is a good fit for our town. Thank you for recognizing the value of such a facility for our community and for all your efforts to make the skateboard park a reality. We are absolutely thrilled about the prospect of this project moving forward and will do all we can to make that happen.

Rion Microys and Richard Joules
Annapolis Royal

We moved to the Annapolis area last September. We have established a sign business here in Annapolis and we will also run a small B&B out of our home in Upper Granville. With tourists coming less and less every year something has to be done to make this beautiful community even more attractive. Everybody here would benefit of an improvement like [the wharf extension project] and also the skatepark is a great idea to keep young people in the area and provide some more things to do for tourists. Somebody told me the other day: "So you moved to a retirement community..." Don't let this happen! We are in strong support of the Wharf and the skatepark.

Dieter & Marion & Erica Jilge
Upper Granville

We discussed within the office and could not think of any reason why this site might not be considered. It is a distance from wetland, closer to pairing pond that is only used briefly (sorta like a "motel for ducks"). It is a highly visible location and parking and walking access is at hand.

Steven Hawboldt
Clean Annapolis River Project

I think the place by the public works place is a good place for the skateboard park. I would definitely support it.

Franz Heubach
Granville Beach

I still believe in a skateboard park for Annapolis Royal. I like the space beside the Marsh trail. Very visible, connected with existing trail system and it would look great coming into Annapolis Royal (very cool).

Angelika Waldow
Granville Beach

Please allow me to extend my support towards the proposed skateboard park currently under discussion. This is the type of fundamental recreation infrastructure we need. We need places such as these so the young can have a safe environment to practice. This is more than a frivolous hang out for unenthusiastic young people but rather an arena to showcase highly skilled talents as I'm sure you are aware. Anyone who thinks skateboarding doesn't have dedication should get on one. More facilities mean increased desire to locate here as a family. That is what stimulates our growth.

Dave Robb
Annapolis Royal Foodland

I think this is a real good idea. We need more activities for the youth. Busy hands keeps them out of trouble.

Andrew Sabean
Granville Service Centre Ltd.

Skateboarding is a sport and great exercise for the kids. As a parent, I believe it should DEFINITELY be in public view. Further to your point about having more young families in the town, I wanted to add that one of our clients who recently purchased property ... this past fall said that they wanted to move here as soon as possible, but that they had a son who was 12 years of age and there wasn't much here for him to do. Ugh! When I inquired as to what his interests were, they said skateboarding!!! I then proceeded to say that we were hopeful of getting a new park in Town and the parents became very excited that they might possibly be able to persuade their son to move here if there was a park. The sooner the skate park gets built, the better!

Kim Burrell

As a citizen of Annapolis County, living in the vicinity of Annapolis Royal, I am in full support of a skate park in Annapolis Royal. We only need to drive through the town on any given day and observe the youth hanging around store doors, walking the streets, etc., to realize that any form of recreation for our youth is gravely needed. As an employer of a Long Term Care facility and one of the largest employers in the area, I am always looking for ways to attract younger employees to the area. If this is to be accomplished, we must provide some form of recreation for the children of these potential employees. We have lots of opportunities for our seniors to enjoy some leisure. Now let's think about our youth.

Linda Bailey, RN

I too am the mother of 2 young children. I feel that in this day and age of obesity, drugs and violence, anything that can be done-to encourage kids to do something healthy and have fun at the same time-should be done! Something as simple and fun as a skate park should be regarded as just that-and monitored accordingly-the same as anything else in this town. It's great that we have lots of people who want to come to the area for retirement, but that is not what is going to make this town thrive. We need to give young families proof that the area is a place they would want to raise their families. After all, we have so many wonderful and beautiful resources-historic and otherwise-why not do anything and everything we can do to try to keep people here with their children? I myself have previously considered moving out west to find good paying work. The reasons we choose to stay are numerous. The biggest reason we stay is because our families are here. We can raise our children in relative safety without worrying that every stranger who comes along is going to kidnap or abuse them. The area is beautiful. We aren't living in someone else's back pocket as so many of the houses elsewhere are on top of each other.The people are friendly and almost everyone will help anyone who needs it. That is pretty unique in itself. Thanks so much and best of luck with this project.

Tina Halliday

I am writing to let you know that I am completely in favor of having a skateboard park in our town. I witnessed several of our young people working very hard this summer to promote their ideas in a mature, friendly and pleasant manner, and if I hadn't already been convinced that we need one, their attitude and approach alone would have won me over. We need to demonstrate to our young people - our future leaders, that we care for them and support them. We need to back their initiatives, and support their interests, even if they are different from our own. Clean living, fresh air and exercise can only be beneficial. Please add my name to the list of supporters for the skateboard park in Annapolis Royal, and let me know if I can help.

Deb Kuzyk
Lucky Rabbit Pottery

Younger people will keep this town moving forward and it is time to do something for them to make it a more attractive place to stay.

Danny McClair

I know I do not live next to this area but feel that the proposed facility done in good taste and character could be a positive addition to the surrounding area. Through landscaping and concrete construction the effects of noise pollution will be drastically minimized and I believe the park would blend into its surroundings.

WE NEED PEOPLE..... to survive and traffic in our stores. Swim meets at the pool, soccer tournaments, basketball games, skating events, etc. all bring young children, adults and money to this town and area. I don't know if everyone really understands this whole concept, maybe they will when the stores close up and they have to travel out of town to acquire the basic necessities. I think we all need to stop and re-assess the big picture. Sure its fine to be a retirement community but it is very unhealthy only to be inhabited by this demographic. We need to work together and make sure we are the best town for as many people as we can be, not just a few.

I ask you all to consider the consequence of not having a vibrant & youthful community. Let's pick a site and get on with this important project!

Rob Lawrie
Annapolis Home Hardware

The skate park in Annapolis Royal is a wonderfully superb initiative for the youth of the community - who have very limited resources available to them. If you want to keep the youth and attract families to the area - this is certainly a step in the right direction.

Helen Abel
Annapolis Royal

Just wanted to let you know that Rick and I support the building of a skateboard park... As you know we not only live in the town but also own a business here as well.

Caroline Bosley & Richard Zenkner
o/a Westside Studio

As citizens and taxpayers of Annapolis Royal we would like to express our support for the construction of a skateboard park for the youths of Annapolis Royal and the Annapolis County.

Val Peterson and Paul Stackhouse
Hillsdale House Inn

We would like to offer this letter as support for the skatepark in Annapolis Royal. As parents of teenagers, we appreciate that such a park would provide a location for the youth of the area to meet, exercise and have fun. Such places are of short supply in our community.

Cheryl Bridson & Chris Pateman
Granville Centre

I am fully in favour of this project to go ahead within our town. I have never found noise to be an issue when the skateboarders would practice for hours on end in the parking lot across the road from our open bedroom window. The gentle sound they made never kept me from falling asleep.

Adrian Nette
Annapolis Royal

Please wish the young'uns all the best of success in getting a skate park. They deserve it.

Peter and Valerie Davies
Annapolis Royal