A group of young boys had enough of the rocks, trash, and broken glass littered all over the Bonnyville Skatepark and they were fed up. But, last Sunday, instead of just complaining about it the boys gathered up a few brooms and a trash can from Centennial Centre (C2) staff and cleaned up the cluttered park.
“We had enough of it,” said 13-year-old Joshua Theriault. So, Joshua and his friends Noah Klassen, Dorian Aubichon and Kailer Chung left the skatepark, walked across the parking lot and into the C2, in search of garbage bags and brooms.
They were met at the front desk by C2 staff member Gina Levasseur, who listened to the concerns of the group of boys and led them to C2 custodian Joy Stone, who provided the boys with brooms, bags, a trash can and gloves. Stone also went out and helped pick up some of the broken glass in the park.
The trash and broken glass not only looks bad, but it is also a safety hazard.
There are certain inherent risks with riding a bike or skateboard or scooter at a skateboard park. But part of those risks shouldn't involve dodging broken glass and old beat up bike frames.
“Kids cut their hands and legs on the broken glass,” said Noah. “It looks crappy, it smells crappy and Josh popped his tire on the glass.”
The popped back tire was part of the impetus to clean up the place, but the friends say they had thought about cleaning up before.
“Some people come here and don't care about the park,” said Joshua. “We're here everyday.”
Although he said they would have rather not had to clean it up, Klassen said it wasn't a big deal.
“It would be nice to get some help, but we got it done. And we'll clean it up again if we have to.”
Stone said the boys were setting a great example for other people, not just kids.
“These are really good kids and they are setting a great example for everyone,” she said.
Levasseur said she was inspired by the boys' actions.
“I didn't really expect that, but I was so impressed with their initiative. It's inspirational to see people, especially young kids, see a problem and actually go out and find the solution and then carry it out.”
