Belmont, ON

 Belmont, ON

Don Yeck Park

14020 Belmont Rd

Edit of the 12 park day trip

Dorchester, ON

 Dorchester, ON

2066 Dorchester Rd

edit of the 12 park day trip

Perils of Pre-fab

Ingersoll, ON

Ingersoll, ON

The park is located behind the Fusion Youth & Technology Centre @ 121 Thames St N but parking and access is from John St.

Edit of the 12 park day trip

Hidden Trail DIY

 Hidden Trail DIY

Somewhere in Hamilton

Beer Can Coping!

Alloa Green Park

 Alloa Green Park

Brampton, ON

Brisdale & Remembrance

When I spoke with the Brampton Parks Director recently, he mentioned that some of the skateparks in Brampton come as a surprise to the city. This is another one. Somehow installed four years ago, this cookie cutter pre-fab has the typical layout and issues.

I've seen this issue in 1 year old parks as well.

Anyways, on to the park.

Nice Freestyle pad next to the main park.lol

Want to skate around the ramp? Too Bad.
 

Boxgrove Community Skate Spot

 Boxgrove Community Skate Spot

Markham

7680 14th Ave

Post survey

 West Shore Skate Spot - Post Survey

1. RE: requests for FS/BS hubba. The current design of Feature M creates a hidden area that is not passively observable. As part of the integral barrier it still needs to remain in some form but it could also descend like a hubba, creating the second FS/BS hubba.

2. Re: Basic flat bar/down rail. Both good ideas but may not be feasible due to space & $$. Limited flat for single rail and adding a down rail would force an expansion of the area between bank and qp costing $$$. Consider slappy flat rail. (N)

3. Re: China Banks Feature (K) The current design is perceived as having too tight an angle to hit the ledge. Some of the renders look tight and some don't look as difficult. perhaps mellowing the hips and extending the ledge 6-10" would help. Mt Albert has a similar feature. It was cut back making it more challenging but its placement is not difficult to approach. The hips are a bit gnarly. 

                                                                

(current perception vs how it needs to be perceived)

Removing the ledge would defeat the purpose of a China Banks Ledge as it's based on a SF skate spot.

4. Re: Curved ledges. Curved ledges are fun. An alternative would be a small bank (~1-2' tall) with ledge of curb or clamshell QP

West Shore Skate Spot Concept

 West Shore Skate Spot Concept

Transition Construction and Scatliff+Miller+Murray are out with their concept design for the West Shore Skate Spot. This Spot has been over 7 years in the making (Check out the long process of getting HERE). 

The concept includes viewing benches, Pier 7 Ledge, China Banks Ledge Feature, Rail and a Quarter Pipe. There is a SURVEY running for ~2 weeks. Check out the Project and Survey HERE. LetsTalkPickering.ca/skatespot - SURVEY is now CLOSED!

I think this design is amazing and much more than I anticipated. There are, of course, some negative people who either don't like the design or don't like the project. 

To the NIMBY's I say - The time to oppose the project has passed.

To the skatepark users who don't like the height of the ledges or think there should be more rails I say - You haven't been involved in the project until now so shut up and support this & I'll support you when you decide to get involved. The success of this project with parlay into more action taken on the Skateboard Park Strategy. 

I have no timeline for the decommission of the current skatepark so it's not going anywhere.  I'm in full support of continuing (& increasing) the legal graffiti walls but the city has decided this spot won't be a graffiti zone. It may have murals on a permission basis. The West Shore Community Centre already has security cameras and I've heard that more will be added to include the skate spot.

The BIG, Civic Centre park is still in location planning, I've been asked about a spot in Seaton and The Skateboard Park Strategy calls for a total of 2 Big Parks (Downtown and Seaton), 7 Spots (5 in the core, 2 in Seaton) & small parks in rural areas like Claremont if requested by the community. 

Anyone Opposed to the project as a whole will probably never change their mind but here are the resources I'd back my arguments with.

1. The Pickering Skateboard Park Strategy

2. The Urban Grind - Skateparks: Neighborhood Perceptions and Planning Realities

Beyond the Board - From The Skatepark Project and University of Southern California

3. Findings from the Field

4. Skateboarding, Schools and Society

Alec Beck, Director of Programming of The Skatepark Project (formerly The Tony Hawk Foundation) recently remarked on The National Recreation & Parks Association Podcast that requests for skatepark information is up 700% since the Olympics. 

If you don't see an 18" ledge, Mini Ramp or Bowl, don't get upset. Get involved.

To quote Red Green - "Remember, I'm pulling for you. We're All In This Together!'