Kolin Smith Skate Park
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The Tillsonburg Skate Park has been renamed in honor of skate park enthusiast Kolin Smith.
"A frequent user of the Tillsonburg Skate Park, he (Kolin) first started riding BMX bikes at the young age of 5," said Katelyn Gehring at a Town Council meeting, speaking on behalf of Kolin's family, who sought to rename the park as a legacy to the young man who died at the age of 23 in a December 2014 automobile accident.
"As he grew in strength and size, there were limited facilities in the area for him to perfect his skills, up until the Tillsonburg Skate Park was built," said Gehring. "Kolin utilized the facility to its maximum potential, and thus the Tillsonburg Skate Park became his second home in both the summer and winter months. We have read and heard countless stories of individuals seeing Kolin shoveling the skate park in the middle of winter for not only his own use, but so that the park could be enjoyed by others.
"As indicated by his peers and parents alike, Kolin was a very patient individual, and as such would consistently take the time to teach young skate and bike enthusiasts basic riding elements or new tricks so that their passion for the sport would continue. As one mother wrote 'the little ones at the skate park admire the older boys, and they could have easily been frustrated with them as they were often in the way… (but) Kolin and his friends never got frustrated, in fact they would help them if they were trying to do something.' As a result of Kolin’s kindness, patience and dedication to riding, I think it safe to a assume that there is another generation of riders who will continue to use the Tillsonburg Skate Park so that they can one day, be as talented as Kolin."
Summing up her presentation to Council, Gehring said Kolin’s legacy is not only the energy and enthusiasm for the sport of riding, but also the joy he brought to those who watched him ride or who were influenced by his contagious love of life.
"The Tillsonburg Skate Park truly was his second home, his sanctuary, and as such, by allowing us to rename the park to the Kolin Smith Skate Park, you would not only be honoring a gifted individual, but also a selfless and inspirational young man."
But it took some legwork – and much discussion – to make it happen at Town Council this past Monday night.
It turns out the town did not have a Commemorative Naming Policy, and when the renaming proposal was made, Council decided to move forward in creating one.
A potential policy was put forward Monday night by Rick Cox, Director of Recreation, Culture and Parks, and Council discussed its merits – and areas where it might be improved. If public opinion was solicited, how many would be needed for approval? And geographically, from how far away?
Suggesting they didn't want to approve a bylaw that wasn't ready, Mayor Stephen Molnar urged Council to wait until a future meeting.
"We're trying to create the little steps now," said Molnar, directing his comments Kolin's family, friends and supporters in attendance. "Because of your spirit and commitment, we're doing this, and it will be more efficient in the long run. I think you're visionaries in the fact that we're doing this right now."
"This is just a draft," Cox noted, suggesting it needs to go to the appropriate advisory committee and come back in a formal approval process. "The policy envisions public advertising, and a petition process, which to a certain extent has already happened. The direction we received was to come back with a policy and bring the process these folks have started and make sure they're in line with it."
But, he noted, Council could make a decision on the skate park Monday night, while continuing to work on its naming policy.
"Because this group has already gone through a lot of the work of this," Councillor Penny Esseltine asked, "would people be in support of approving what they're asking for... now?"
Councillors Jim Hayes and Chris Rosehart suggested waiting until a naming policy was formalized, while Councillor Max Adam asked whether they could approve it in principle before hand.
In the end, Molnar noted, the advisory committee would not be making the final decision – they would pass on a recommendation to council, who would eventually vote on it.
"It's a human issue versus governance policy," he said, acknowledging the family's wishes to rename the park before Kolin's birthday, June 9, and a special event they planned for Saturday, June 6.
With its naming policy on hold, Council introduced a resolution to rename the park and passed it, renaming the Kolin Smith Skate Park in recognition of his significant contributions to the local skate park youth.