Ajax Community Centre Skatepark Concepts

The Town of Ajax and Newline Skateparks presented 3 concepts for the Ajax Community Centre Skatepark.  

It was another cold night, Two from the first meeting showed and two others.

The first meeting had been a larger group of local skaters who stated a preference for more of a street plaza with limited focus on transition.  The online survey had roughly a 50/50 split on street vs tranny.

The location of the skatepark is also going to be closer to the community centre.

This is where I get to vent my frustration.

Designers, cater to the people who show up. Even amongst our small group that showed last night, the desire is for street. Lots of ledges and rails, minimal transition, no need for a bowl.  Online surveys are open to ANYONE!  11yo that lives down the street from the project wants a pole jam.  Great. Add it. A 60yo surfer from South Africa that thinks surfskate ramps are cool.  Fuck all the way off.  Designers need to take a more measured approach on how 'global feedback' gets incorporated into the design.  There were several 'example skatepark' photos that I would prefer over the 3 concepts. Speaking of which, let's check them out.

Concept 1

Concept 1 stuck to the initial crews request for more street. We discussed a simplified bowl more similar to the Gellert mini bowl with some kind of extension feature. 

Concept 2

Much more transition based.  We chatted about the volcano being a waste of space like the boob at Non-dons. I preferred this bowl to the kidney in concept 1.

Concept 3

Thinking a little more outside the box, C3 features a large flow bowl and 'L' shaped street section.  I like the ledge feature.  

The concepts with presented by Bill and there was a lot of discussion. Bill then asked me for an opinion 'as you've been to a lot of skatepark meetings'

Thats probably why I shouldn't say anything.

No one else brought it up so I didn't then but I will here.  Design 1 is practically what NL just presented for Confederation Skatepark in Toronto.  Any it's really similar to Gellert, North Bay and other projects.

Confederation

Ajax CC Skatepark Concept 1

Scan the QR or click HERE for the Survey (til Dec 26, 2025)

Thanks to the people who show up.

 Confederation Skatepark

Toronto, ON

For the last year, Skatepark Champions have been directing this skatepark project.  The SC feedback pushed for transition as well as street features. There's been online surveys and a virtual meeting with the city, SC's and the public. 

The preferred design was presented to the public at an open house at the Scarborough Centennial Recreation Centre. I think they look great and wouldn't change a thing the locals desire.

I did suggest a small deck behind the bank to curb (feature 1) to prevent the grass from being worn out.  This actually led to a great discussion with the designers. He stated they'd explored that idea but due to the slope and drainage it had been left out.  I said I was only thinking of a small deck, 1ft max, and not a continuation of the mini ramp deck.  'We can do that' he said.

Good to see local skaters and fellow advocates out on a cold snowy night.

Future Home of the Confederation Skatepark aka Confed (maybe).

 Ajax Community Skatepark. Meeting 2

Show Up or Shut Up

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.

Moses Springer Roller Spot

Four fun rollers in Waterloo on their own trail segment adjacent to the main trail.  This is a better execution of the Brimorton idea.  I had way more fun here. The edge of one roller is waxed and grindable.

McNally St Skate Dot 

The McNally St Skate Dot in Georgetown 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.

Two Dots make a Spot.

Greengate Park, Cambridge

Two of my favourite skate features that would both work as a skate dot.

The laser cut flat rail support is a great way to hide a dot in signage and the Ledge/Manny Pad combo (used in many skateparks, some examples below) can also function as a stage for public events and blocks for exercise. Looks an awful lot like the Ramsden Park Dot.

That Would Make a Great Dot

Some skatepark features that would work as a dot.

Another great ledge/manny pad combo.

Gardengate Skate Dot in BC is one of these L/MP's

Ledge/Pad pushed to the limits.

Private Micro bowl

Gellert's Mini-bowl

McLennan's art feature.

Skatable Art in Germany

The 'Y' Rail

Stronach's Obelisk

Winnipeg's Plaza at the Forks features.

Magic Carpet Skatable Sculpture.

Skatable Floating Arch

 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.