Near 6th line & Burnhamthorpe Rd East on Settlers Rd East.
This smaller skatepark was completed in 2024 (the park was supposed to open spring 2025 but is now delayed to late-summer 2025) and is a design/build by Canadian Ramp Company. There were no public consultation as far as I know(it's also in a new neighbourhood). Additionally, this park, known as NP9 in city docs, wasn't supposed to have a skate spot so I'd been looking for NP8.
Anyways, here's a honest review with constructive criticisms and suggestions for improvement.
Overall, the park looks good with a variety of rails, stair set, QP wall, ledge, 'A' frame with rail and hubba.
There is no drainage as with a lot of small parks so the spot was built with a bit of a grade so rain runs off the grass.
Here's what I got up to at McDuffe.
And here's a critique and tour.
The 'Grading' is pretty noticeable when you look at it head on but it didn't affect my riding. The rails are a good height and I was able to ollie the stairs but found it a quick throw down and pop.
At the other end of the park is a large QP wall. It's about 42" high with an ~6' radius. After riding several CRC qp's and being less than trilled I was surprised how well rode. The coping reveal was good with no sections on 'No-ping'. There are some imperfections in the transition with some bulges just under the coping but nothing that stopped me from doing tricks (Belleville's mini bowl had bad bumps that screwed me up).
An issue that comes up again and again with CRC is the seams between pours. Seams should feel SEAMLESS. The seam before the tranny felt like going over a sidewalk crack and this seam between to QP sections is the same. It's not as bad as Innisfil where the seam what so bad I'd loose contact and slide out.
The beveled end on this ledge was a blast to wallie on. I feel this ledge could have been made twice as wide and functioned as a manny pad. I, personally, don't have manny skills. Maybe you do?
Another on-going issue with CRC build and these wonky lines. I feel like this shows a lack of pride in their work. Yeah, it's good enough but do other companies finish concrete work like this?
This rail (flat and down) was the tallest at 20inches and ending at 22". There was an opportunity to created a neat bank to bank here but all the banks are rounded into the flat making it harder to hit your pop into the high rail.
'A' Frame with rail and Hubba.
Great flat bar.
This Ride-on ledge section was what drew me to the design. Hitting it down meant having to go from backside to frontside (Goofy foot). There were some bails. It's also fun to ride up to the top of the park or pop off into the bank
It took a while but I rode its full length.
The one design flaw is this Ride-on section straight in into the stair feature. whoops.
Much better stair set. The stairs are a consistent size and there's no big crack/seam at the top.
My biggest issue with this build is the seams, which, as I said before, should feel SEAMLESS!
On my EGAD Scale (excellent, good, acceptable, despicable) this park is an upgrade to CRC's past construction and gets their highest score yet of a Good.
Canadian Ramp Company
If you are reading this, I (& other users) would love to have a discussion on how to improve your minor but consistent construction issues that skatepark users have noticed and are frustrated with. Attempts to reach you on social media have failed. We just want top quality parks and feel some feedback and consultations with users would help you hit the mark.
