Wednesday, 19 November 2025

Dots!

Dots, Dots, Dots Dots, Dots Dots!

imagine 'Shots' by LMFAO with Lil Jon

Skate Dots are the smallest of skate facilities. One feature, maybe two, but three?

Get outta here! That's a Skate Spot.

Skate Dots are typically simple obstacles and can often be included into a larger project without calling it a 'skate feature' thus lessening the need for public consultation.

Brimorton Skate Dot

This one's pretty bad but hey, Thanks. These rollers next to the ledge were planned as 'an informal space for skateboarding and rollerblading with small concrete slopes'.

The ledges finish makes grinds & slides pretty unlikely but manuals are a go.

McNally St Skate Dot

The McNally St Skate Dot was part of a park upgrade that also saw an updated playground and 1/2 Basketball Court added. The issues here are the skate feature was offset into the grass making more challenging and well as being more on an intermediate feature rather than a beginner feature. This shows that some skater input should be sought during design/construction.

Walter Henry Park, Orillia

This descending street quarter pipe is a lizards tail. When the park is viewed from above, the whole lizard is visible. Here, you can also see the lizards foot.

Hillside Park Park, Orillia

Hillside park features a sport court and two sweeping rainbow rails.

Mount Pleasant Park, Richmond Hill

I was told by city staff that there were features included in public parks that were meant to be skated but installed as 'art features' to avoid further consultation & rejection from NIMBY's.

Innisfil Town Square

I was shocked when I finally got an up close look at what appeared to be a quarter pipe hip at the town square. While not 'skatepark quality', it has inset coping and the seating around the winter ice skating trail also has square coping. There's no 'No Skateboarding' signs.

Ramsden Park, Toronto

This Dot was hidden in plain sight. Perfectly disguised as seating beside the basketball court, this feature was installed in 2018 and I didn't find out about it until 2025.

G-RIDGE, Toronto

An updated community space with Basketball Courts and other amenities included some pre-fab rails.

Thompson Park, Aurora

Treading the line between Dot and Spot, Thompson Park features a simple ledge and simple flat bar.

Monday, 17 November 2025

Driveway Skate Shop

31 Armstrong Ave Unit 1

Georgetown, ON

Driveway Skate Shop was started in 2020 by brothers Tom and Nick to support the growing Halton Hills skate scene.

The Brothers modified an old food truck into a mobile skate shop that they pull up to local skateparks. They also began supporting events, hosting camps and advocating for more/updated facilities.

Nick and Tom (Photo from their FB at Jackalope Mississauga and likely taken by OntarioSkateboarding.ca I see your reflection Mike & Alex!)

The boys have expanded into a Brick & Mortar location with a skatepark that can host summer camps, parties, events and more.

The park is always a work in progress as per Tom.

I had a ton of fun, working of my 'fast feet' skills.

Shout out to Ramp To Rail on the design and construction.

Park 615!

One of their Shop Decks featured the top skateparks in the area: Acton's 3 Muskatears Skatepark 2.0, Georgetown's Gellert & Mold-master 2.0

I had the guys sign the deck for me.

Friday, 31 October 2025

Pickering Community Skatepark Design Meeting Follow-up

It was a dark and stormy night when the Pickering Skatepark faithful turned out to the Pickering Community Skatepark Design Meeting.

Thanks to Chris Ray of Radius Skateparks & City of Pickering for hosting the event.

Thanks Jia, Mike, Connor, Demi, Some lame skatepark nerd, Chris & Matt. Not pictured (cuz he took the shot) is Arnold from the city. Also Adam and his young boys had to leave earlier.

Caught you using my photos again.

This one is the meat & potatoes, Due to the location there are some site constraints.

Survey has closed. Obviously some Nimby's and others got into the comment section of the socials so here's some responses.

Why not use the old site? - It's the location of a homicide.

Can we have a large flat area for roller skating? NO! Maybe be aware of other city projects like the city centre project that's building exactly what you're asking for.

Don't put it close too the road like the one on Bayly. It should have a fence. - WSSS is not too close to the road for anyone who uses it. I've tried to get a board to land on the road and it doesn't happen. The 'Fence' is built into the park. That's what the integral wall is stupid. Pickering Community Skatepark will be further back from the road.

There's no sidewalk! - There's a plan to put sidewalks in. This loops back to paying attention to other projects.

LIGHTS! - I agree, but I doubt it due to Hydro Corridor issues. I'll see what I can do.