The City of Barrie has moved a proposal ahead that could see it spend up to $45,000 on a legal graffiti wall and public art project at Queen’s Park skatepark.
The proposal, which was approved without discussion during Wednesday's executive committee meeting, includes constructing a designated graffiti wall, installing a ground mural and hosting a community opening event.
Coun. Amy Courser, who chairs the city's arts advisory committee, sponsored the motion. It follows a presentation on the project at the committee’s Mar. 24 meeting as part of a broader skatepark revitalization effort.
The original idea was put forward with the support of the Barrie Public Art committee, for which a letter of support is being requested with Courser's motion.
Local art collective Clandestinos, a renowned group based in Barrie that has done multiple works downtown and nationwide, would be commissioned to complete the ground surface mural.
Other works by the duo include a large mural on a Maple Street building. The public art committee also commissions the "brightening barriers" initiative for the patios installed during the summer on Dunlop Street.
The graffiti wall would serve as free wall, essentially an open canvas for anyone in the community to add their street art onto.
Courser cited a similar project's success in Ottawa as an inspiration for what could happen in Barrie.
"It's just a really good addition to the skatepark that gets more youth involvement in our community [along with] camaraderie and other things in that space," she said to Barrie360.
Pending additional grants and sponsorships, up to $20,000 would come from the city’s public art reserve fund, while an additional $25,000 from the city’s approved public art operating budget would also be allocated.
That $25,000 represents over a third of the city’s public art operating budget. If approved, up to $45,000 could be spent on the project.
"It's not something that we are coming to the public right now asking for," Courser said. "It is something that's already in our public art reserves that would be drawing on.
The skatepark has been a fixture of the neighbourhood for nearly 27 years and and remains one of the city's main hubs for skateboarding and BMX.
However, concerns have been raised about other activity in the area. In 2023, Mayor Alex Nuttall announced a list of measures that aimed to improve safety.
Coun. Craig Nixon, who represents Ward 2 where Queen’s Park is located, said it’s a good time to make improvements to the space.
"The skateboard park needs some beautification and this would go a long way in making the park a much more welcoming place," he said in an email to Barrie360.
He also says he has not heard any negative feedback from his constituents about the proposed project.
If approved, city staff would be directed to continue supporting planning, community engagement and implementation of the project, as well as prepare any required legal agreements.
The proposal will next be considered at general committee on Apr. 15 and could then go before council on Apr. 22 for final approval.
