Thursday, 3 September 2015

New Pickering Skatepark


I'm happy to inform you that there is movement towards a new skate spot in Pickering, ON. The Pickering Executive Committee is meeting Sept. 14 @ 2pm to discuss the proposed skate spot at Petticoat Creek Community Centre.  This has been determined to be the most suitable location for a new skateboard facility.  The budget has been set at $200000. This is meant to be a community based skate spot and not a large city park.  There is also word of improvements to the current park and a future park in Seaton.  
There has been concerns from local residents who oppose the park for reasons such as crime, noise and waste of tax dollars ('Plans for second skate park in Pickering stir controversy' & letter to the editor 'Can't Afford Luxury of a Second Skatepark'). 

If you wish to speak in favor (or opposition) of the park you can sign up here -- Speakers
Any show of support would be great.

If you need some motivation or information you can grab it @ The Tony Hawk Foundation & Skaters for Public Skateparks. Both are great resources for statistics on skateparks, skaters, injuries and noise levels.  A full presentation on skateparks from Kitchener can be found HERE

I hope this will be a productive and respectful meeting. It's a chance to show what skateboarding (& BMX or Scooters) mean to us.

Below are some concepts that are being thrown around. The city wants a small skate spot that is aesthetically pleasing. 
Skateable sculpture at Quebec City Plaza
Skateable kicker gap sculpture at Quebec City Plaza
Leitchcroft skate trail in Markham
Multi-use ledge at Millennium Park in Ottawa
Sonoma Skate spot in Vaughan
Multi-use Ledge found in several parks in Chatham-Kent area
Ledge/manny pad in Pelham.

 At this time there is no design in the works. Hopefully a public design meeting will be held when a skatepark builder is picked.

More information will be added as I receive it.

4 comments:

  1. This is great Scott. I really appreciate the work you've put into the site. I want to get behind this, and plan to attend the September 14th meeting assuming I'm not travelling on business.

    I will draft a write up and email the Pickering mayor as you've suggested, just to keep making it top of mind.

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  2. Hi Ashley. Thank you for the support. You can contact me directly through https://www.facebook.com/spotttheloonie.
    Scott

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  3. sad, 6 years in the future and still no fucking skate park. The city needs to fucking build the new skate park already.

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    1. What can I say dude? Perfection takes time. We don’t want another half-assed park. Progress takes time AND people to push it along.

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