Dear Mississauga

It was recently announced that the Iceland Skatepark will be improved (while the project website says 'replaced') and there is a SURVEY out until March 18th. 

One of my photos is being used in the survey so I'll take that as an invite to involve myself.

I assume NewLine Skateparks (or Monteith Brown) is involved based on the structure and photos in the survey.

However, Park users online are not stoked as they don't feel like this park needs replacing, just some improvements.

For some context, this park opened in 2003 making it over 20yrs old. There are some outdated rail designs and some repairs have been made over the years due to shifting concrete and wear.

Here's my two cents - Replace the bowl with something modern and add a basics area to the flat space by the basketball court with a small QP, flat rail, Ledge and manny pad. 

The Ayr/North Dumfries skatepark features 2 depths, multiple extensions and a neat in/out transfer quarter pipe.

Some core obstacles in the area by the Basketball Court will create a zone for learning before moving to the bigger features of the skatepark.

Do some surface touch-ups of the park and replace the rails.

The rest of the park, while older, is in relatively good condition and does not warrant a complete rebuild like Pickering, Bowmanville or the old Mold-Master skatepark in Georgetown.

The pitted concrete at the top of the step-up gap should be addressed.

The small stair set rails are awkward to hit due to the concrete bases.  These should be replaced with standard round rails.

Standard Round Rail at Ayr.

A recent skatepark project at Gulleden park did not include through skatepark user consultation so I'm glad the City is reaching out early to the relevant stakeholders.

so I wrote.

Hello Project Lead

I’m writing regarding the recent announcement of the Iceland Multi-use Skate Ramp redevelopment. I am a skatepark advocate and Peel Paramedic.  

Iceland Skatepark is a very well loved park and despite being over 20yrs old, it is still well used and very functional.  I have ben in touch with the city about minor repairs in the past and they were carried out quite quickly.  After the Gulleden Skate Spot had very limited skatepark user engagement, Iceland users are happy the city is reaching out to the stakeholders early.

Comments online seem to echo my own thoughts; The park needs some repairs but not a full rebuild.

Here are my thoughts which I hope will assist the project.

Replace the bowl with something modern while keeping some of the dimensions of the existing bowl as it’s very popular with BMX and skateboarders. Attached is a photo of Ayr/North Dumfries’ bowl that features multiple depths, extensions and transfer opportunities.

Secondly, add a skills area to the flat beside the basketball court consisting of a small quarter pipe, flat bar, flat ledge and manny pad. These are the core obstacles of a skatepark.

Lastly, address the small stair rails and the pitting at the top of the step-up gap.  The rails are awkward to hit with the concrete bases and there’s considerable pitting at the step-up.

I noted one of my photos being used in the survey.  My educated guess is that NewLine Skateparks is involved in some way.

There is also some confusion with the presentation of the project. Social Media post note ‘Big Upgrades’ with the project page states ‘Replacement’.  

I look forward to your reply and please feel free to contact me for any skatepark questions. The Local Stakeholders and I are excited but nervous about the possibilities of this project.

SL

Winter's Almost Over

Some news coming out of the Valentines weekend.

Enjoi and Madness are back in the hands of 

Louie Barletta and Bill Weiss!!

'Pickleballers Would Never' - @TheChrisRay

Before

After

I got out the shovel and cleared a section of ARC.

Mississauga has a survey out now about re-developing Iceland Skatepark - INFO HERE

SURVEY HERE - until March 18th.

Here's my two cents - Replace the bowl with something modern and add a basics area to the flat space by the basketball court with a small QP, flat rail, Ledge and manny pad. Do some surface touch-ups of the park and replace the rails.

The rest of the park, while older, is in relatively good condition and does not warrant a complete rebuild like Pickering, Bowmanville or the old Mold-Master skatepark in Georgetown.

Clarington has acquired 20 hectares for a future park. Surveys are coming. It's beyond time to replace the Bowmanville Skatepark.

Follow the project HERE. 

The Town of Blue Mountains is hosting an open house for Moreau Park in Thornbury on Feb 19th.

I chatted with Jim about the Pickering Community Skatepark last night, making the final tweaks. Final draft should be out soon.

Pickering Community Skatepark Concept Design Reveal Meeting

 Pickering Community Skatepark Concept 

Design Reveal Meeting

The second design meeting was hosted last night and had an even greater turnout including Pickering's Ward 3 Councillors -  

Councillor David Pickles & Councillor Shaheen Butt.

The Design from Radius was a hit with the group sharing what they liked and what they'd like modified but there didn't seem to be anything that was universally hated. 

Survey out now. 

Full presentation panels and renders with the survey.

Chris Ray hosting and using my photos😝

at the end, I rolled up a poster and left.

But this is what you wanted to see! 

There were a few asks like a less gnarly pole jam and some other tweaks.

Thanks to everyone that showed up to support this project including Pickering Ward 3 Councillors Shaheen Butt & David Pickles.

There's already been some NIMBY's in the FB comments who think the render is too close to the road. I guess they're unfamiliar with location as there's a sidewalk, a ditch and a row of mature trees that aren't included in the render.

There's some other typical BS comments from Short Bus Seat Fillers.

'Pickering already has 2 skateparks' - Tell me you don't understand the project without telling me you don't understand the project. It's clearly posted in the project scope that the new park is a replacement of the old park which will be decommissioned following opening.  Plus, 2 parks is already underserving the community. Ajax -3 and currently working on replacing an outdated park. Whitby - 3 with one on the way. Oshawa - 4 if you're being generous (lakeshore lol) and a fantastic bike park. I could go on but you probably catch my drift.

'No one will use it' - I wonder if this guy's always wrong. He should grab a board. Looks like he could use the exercise. 

To the rest of the NIMBY's,

here's my response.

UPDATE

After years of complaints of 'cookie cutter skatepark' we get a unique design and some complain about the green space.

You know why I've led this for the past decade and you armchair critique?

Pickering Community Skatepark Design Sesh #2

 Deets Below.

After 10+ years of Advocacy, the core of Pickering is getting a modern skatepark. I had an online meeting with city staff as well as Brian Savard, President & Director of Construction for Radius Skateparks, and Jim Barnum, Senior Designer & Project Manager for Radius Skateparks. 

BTW, if you don't know these guys, they've been responsible for ABB, Elmira, Campbellford, Haliburton and more.

I was asked to keep the concept secret until Radius has a 3d render ready for the public. 

We went over all the details and I was asked for feedback. 

5 emails of photos, designs, doodles and suggestions later, we have our second meeting set.

To find out how we got here click HERE

 Cullen Drop

For a few years, a friend of a friend had been leaving obstacles in a covered picnic area in Whitby near the old Cullen Gardens during the winter.

The First year had a couple ledges and a rail.

Jay donated a PJ I'd made and given him during Covid.

The Second year had a Ledge and a PVC Slider. I donated a pole jam.

I filmed some of the first clips for '42NBD' here.

The Third year had a ledge, PVC slider and a manny pad.

Dry spot on a wet day

The posted rules were 'Please put the ramps back against this wall so they don't get snowed on'

There was always some extra junk like a metal barrier or some recycled tire pylon weights around to make a sesh fun.

Then, there nothing for a winter.

This year, thanks to a ledge donor from Leaside, The Cullen Drop is back. New sign posted with the basics.

enjoi

Simple Ledge and 'Simple' Rail.

Yeah, the rail has lights in it. 

I got out my measuring device and got to work. I'd love to have shelters like this everywhere that can be utilized in the winter.

The whole shelter with kitchenette and washrooms is ~150ft long and 40ft wide.

The winter space with all the picnic tables stacked is roughly 40x80.

'25 in 52s

2025 is 52seconds

2025, frankly, I was a bit down at the beginning of the year. Maybe some seasonal depression but as the weather improved and I took a family vacation, I started to feel like my old self. I built less obstacles but wasn't any less busy with new skateparks, advocacy and family. I have a bunch of out-of-town friends I'm eager to link up with this year. There's a ton of park projects I'm following and I'm making stuff happen in Pickering.

Let's go 2025

Let's crush it in 2026!!!

All the new parks are in the Directory.

Some of the best this year were...

Matt Hughes Skatepark - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

North Bay All-wheel Park & Pump Track

Stefan Wenek Skatepark, Ottawa, Ontario. #600

Everything Advocacy.

Skatepark Consultations & Advocacy Mentoring

Here's to you Maciej and Bo!

Earl Bales

Gore Meadows

HALP Queensville

HALP Queesnville

North Bay All-wheel Park & Pump Track

NEW PARKS COMING

Pump Track & Bike Park Listing

Rose Valley Bike Park, Oshawa

The Long Skate Home

Skating 74km from Work to Home

Snow clearing is fun and easy with a good podcast.

Try 'Good Luck With That' or 'How Did This Get Made'

Trimmer Skate Spot

This park was not up to standard so I fixed it myself.

2 Road Trips with my Daughter

Kidnap the Sandy Claws

Rest in Peace Catherine O'hara.

Contraptions

FUN

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, please 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.  And it's really similar to Gellert, North Bay and some 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.