House of Vans - Toronto

House of Vans - Toronto

In celebration of their 50th year, Vans opened a pop-up skatepark/venue in Toronto for 2 weeks. It held workshops, demos, art expos, skateboard lessons and concerts. Everyday featured a free waffle breakfast. I was only able to get there for the last day but it was fun. I went with my friend Jay, who can be seen in the new Baitshop Presented vid - DAD BEERS.

We checked out the place and grabbed a waffle first.

 The building is becoming a brewery next.

 Some history.

 Art.

Waffle on a stick and coffee. So good. 

We had some time to kill before the free skate so we skated down to Honest Ed's.  Going to Ed's with my dad is one of my earliest memories of Toronto when we moved there so I wanted to go once more before it closes in December.

I had no plans on buying anything but on the way to the exit I spotted this.

It was a sign. Bought it for $2.26 and kept the receipt.

Checked out the Bickford Ledges.

 Bad Pano.

 Some of Jays shots.

 Everyone was skating their hardest. It was a blast.

Sadly, it's over. But I did get a waffle stick for the memory box.

Park 277.

Angus Glen Skate Spot

Angus Glen Skate Spot
Angus Glen Community Centre
3990 Major Mackenzie Dr E, Markham, ON

A ledge lovers dream with a fun quarter pipe and small barrier located in a great community park.

The quarter over culvert adds some challenge to a mellow QP.

Under Construction: Fall 2015.

New Parks

New Parks!

Future and recently completed Parks

New park projects go right onto the map in yellow or orange.

I try to stay up to date on parks that are raising funding, under council review or under construction.  I'll try to keep this section updated on new or proposed parks I haven't been to yet. (March 1 2026 update)

Toronto, ON - Wallace Emerson Community Center construction continues but the bowls are done. Earl Bales started summer 2025 to be completed spring '26. My source from NL is satisfied with the concrete work.  Eglinton Park is also supposed to be started summer 2025. Plus a bunch more like Elizabeth Simcoe & Confederation can be found HERE

Ajax - Ajax Community Centre Skatepark 2.0 is in planning/design phase. 

Arnprior - Local Advocates have done a great job and are looking for further funding to bring the project up 400K. Design is out now and it's fantastic. They got Papillon!

Brampton, ON - Gore Meadows pre-fab has been decommissioned. Concrete well under way ETA 2026. Embleton CC is supposed to have a skatepark. Ceremonial ground breaking Dec 6, 2025. Reaching out for skatepark info.

Brant/Brantford - Arrowdale Community Park has opened & Blance E Williams Community Centre skatepark is done with the park/CC to open in 2026.

Cambridge, ON - Advocacy for Hespeler - Site possibly selected.

Cobourg - Push for a concrete park. Location could be new Rec Centre or the current location of the metal park.

Cramahe - I've been chatting with their Parks guy.

Delhi - I stuck my nose in where it belongs but wasn't invited. 

Essa Township - Angus got a new pre-fab park & Thornton got a modular pump track.

East Gwillimbury - Skatepark & Pump track under construction at new HALP Community Centre. To open in spring 2026.

Georgetown - Skate Spot on Miller Dr was to be built in fall 2025. Now tentatively booked for 2026. 

Grand Bend - Local advocate is working on updates to the park.

Guelph - Mkinaak Donjibaa Park is getting a 'Skate-Node'.   Info & Park Layout Survey HERE.  ETA Summer 2026 but that seams rushed.  Pump Track at Eastview Park is open.

Hamilton, ON - Hamilton Skateboard Assembly Facebook - Hamilton needs 9 more skateparks article. Beasley got some work. Alexander Park (concept below) was started in early 2024 but a high water table stalled the project. No additional work done on the bowls as of Nov '24. Work expected to begin Spring 2026.?! Source

Hensall & Walkerton both stalled in planning stages.

Innisfil - plans for a new park at Innisfil Beach - ETA 2030.  Innisfil Town Square has street spots.

Kincardine - planning on a concrete replacement designed by Drop-in Skateparks.  March 2026 UPDATE - Drop-in is secured as builder!

Lakeshore, ON - I've been chatting with a concrete skatepark company about updates but it looks like Belle River will move into the park and be metal CRC and Stoney Point will have a fresh asphalt pad and the old ramps.

Loyalist, ON - Amherstview is deep into the planning and hope to have construction in 2026 ( PROJECT)

Mississauga - Iceland is getting refurbished. South Common 2.0. Pre-fab park in a new location is open. I emailed the project lead and got a nonsense reply a while back.  Zonta Meadows Park update includes a concrete pumper, bowl and mini - ETA Oct 2026.  Gulleden Skate Spot is underwhelming but open. Malton is getting new ramps too. 2024 Parks Plan calls for 3 more parks.

New Tecumseth - Concrete park plans seem to have Died. Website is down. IG not updated in a while.  New pump track tossed in by the splash pad. But all hope is not lost. The 'GoFundMe' posted an update in July that the township would be building 2 new parks, Alliston and Tottenham, in 2030. 

Oakville - Sixteen Mile Park is open. NP9 skate spot in new neighbourhood off 6th Line is complete and the park (McDuffe) is fun and open.

Orangeville - The dirt track has been paved.

Orillia, ON - Final design is out - Seeking funding - FACEBOOK

Pickering - Pickering Community Skatepark (Hydro corridor North of Kingston Rd) - final design coming soon. Seaton Rec, South Pickering Ward 2,  Dave Ryan Park and more slated for spots/parks.  Follow HERE

Peterborough - Giant phase 2 is open and fantastic. Pumper is open now too.

Port Hope - Ph2 Pump Track is now open.

Richmond Hill - Richmond Green Revitalization Project includes a new concrete skatepark in a more central location. Feedback Form out now til May 8 - Click HERE

Vaughan, ON -  North Maple regional park - possibly cancelled, status unknown. New Pump Track at Carville Community Centre now open.

Waterloo - RIM skate spot in now open.

Whitby - New Rec complex with skatepark and pump track. ETA 2026. 

Existing Parks I need to hit.

So many, check the map.

Here's a map if you want to hit them before me - MAP
Parks I've been to in RED
Parks I need to hit in GREEN
Parks in planning or construction in YELLOW

Existing Parks that are being replaced in ORANGE

Ottawa area

Montreal Area

Greater Detroit area

NF NY to Rochester

Great skateparks are built by skaters. The best producers of skateparks have skaters who design, survey and build.  They are also totally cool so if you ever want info on a park just contact them.
New Line
Spectrum - now gone but their former staff are still busy. (see Radius)

Transition Construction

Radius Skateparks

Grindline
California Skateparks
Team Pain
Evergreen
Spohn Ranch

Drop-in Skateparks from MB are now in Ontario

Papillon Skateparks - Sick skateparks out of Quebec with 2 projects in Ontario so far.

Rick Design Skatepark - More great 'crete out of Quebec.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

It's warm enough to skate outdoors here in Toronto so I took a quick roll down the street.

Looking back: 

Two years ago the Ice Storm had just rolled through and many were still without power.

 Dropping off a skateboard for the Tattooed Santa Toy and Food Cruise @ Thrive Studios, Cambridge.

 We were lucky our damage was minimal but this branch almost hit our dogs, who wanted to pee at 2am.

A year ago I had hit Elmira a few days before and was working a night shift on Christmas Eve.

Cold but clear.

The bowl, however, was not clear. I would have to wait until spring to skate it.

But the biggest surprise last Christmas was our son being born early on Christmas Day.

Three days old with his first deck.

This past year has flown by. Watching our little man grow, skating with my wife and with friends and doing some skatepark advocacy.

 I'll have to get some trucks and wheels soon.

 Gem joined us at Skatelife this year and we hope his trip home is safe and his return is soon.

 Logan wasn't sure of Tattooed Santa, but left some skateboards for the toy drive anyways.

Skatelife hit up Muskoka Woods again this year. Here's the clip.

12.5 foot drop-in and biggest boardslide I've ever done in one clip.

More to come...

Skating Through December

If you're looking for a cool gift this year I suggest checking out Skate Stratford (skatestratford.com). They are fundraising for a new park (photos of the current park can be found HERE) and donations of as low as $50 will get you on the donor wall plus a T-shirt.  Stratford has been fighting long and hard for this park. Check out their Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/RollingInShakespearePark/

This year give the gift of Skateboarding. Donate to a Park Project or drop off a complete to a Toy Drive. You might change someones life.

It looks like it might be a green Christmas in the Toronto Area so GO SKATE.

Caesarea, ON

Caesarea, ON

Now open officially, (A Grand Opening will be held May 14, 2016) Caesarea has a beautiful park to call their own. Designed by Spectrum Skataparks, it features wave patterns on some ledges and the rails are supported by anchors, paying respect to the town's waterfront history. The Mayor even took a ride on his board( kudos for the helmet Mayor. You set a good example.)

This was the 12th park this year and 276th on the life list. Well done Susie and everyone else involved. Thanks to the two nice ladies who held my son so I could sweep and take a quick ride on the park.

October 2, 2015 - A day of 4 parks.

October 2, 2015 - A day of 4 parks.
I always set myself goals when it comes to skateboarding. Usually they involve hitting certain parks or getting involved in projects. I wanted to hit 10 new parks this year (hit 60 new last year) and with the birth of my son, I felt this low number was attainable. This morning I ventured back to the KW area and after breakfast with friends I went to the long delayed Wellesley Park. # 273 Not pretty but I'll take it.

 Damaged leg on modular ledge.

A single quarter pipe.

It took over 8 years and a mid construction halt to end up with this.  Half of the budget was spent on excavation, refilling and re-excavating the site. Read some of this stupid story here - Obverver Wellesley skatepark.

Next, I went back to Elmira to skate a little and get the snow free shots I didn't get at the grand opening as I was having too much fun.

Next I headed to the new park in Kitchener in Fischer Park near Forest Heights Library. After breaking up a stupid high school fight I skated and my back truck nearly lost its bolt. The park is really nice but I feel it could have been better. The youth at the design meeting I attended seemed very entitled. I'll explain- Kitchener budgeted for 2 skatepark to be built over 4 years (at an est. cost of 400000-500000$ each). None of the youth were willing to compromise on what they wanted and to result was a really deep bowl (9 foot. First render had shallower bowl with stairs) and smaller everything else (5 set and 3.5 foot quarter. Most ledges and rails were raised for bikes.) In the end, most skaters wanted a plaza and Bmx'rs wanted a deep bowl to air out of.  What I believe in the end will be two really good parks could have been two amazing parks if the guys at the design meeting had realized that with a little patience they could have 1 amazing plaza park and 1 amazing bowl park. But maybe that's the grey hairs talking. Park # 274.

 This old dude, borrowed my board, said it was too tight, tried to do a spin & fell.

Last I went to the new park in Cambridge.
I like it. It has a nice long ledge over the manny pad. Park # 275 and apparently my 11th park of the year.

Cool day. Now bed.