Lit Ontario Parks

Lit Ontario Parks

The Toronto Skateboarding Committee is working on getting lights installed at Ashbridges Bay Skatepark. This park is the largest in Toronto and 3rd Largest in Ontario (I think) and features a second phase bowl, multiple stair and rail sets, ledges and a replica of a downtown Toronto spot.
You can sign the petition HERE.

A few months ago, TSC contacted me regarding lit parks in Ontario. Here's the list, with updates, that I gave them.

Lit Parks

Designated Lighting – DL The skatepark has designated lighting.

Park Lighting – PL  The park is lit casting light on the skatepark.

Parking Lot Lighting – LL Some of these parks are on a former parking lot.

I left out Dunbat and Duff Grove and their Rink Lighting.

Ajax ARC – DL

Ajax Rec. Centre – DL

Barrie, Queens Park – DL

Belleville – one DL in a large park

Blenheim – One street light over skatepark

Brampton, Jim Archdekin Rec. Centre – LL

Brampton, McMurchy – LL

Brantford, Brant’s Crossing – DL

Brantford, Jaycee Rainbow Ramp – LL

Brockville – DL

Burlington, Norton Park – DL

Cambridge, Riverside – DL but it’s mellow

City of Kawartha Lakes, Bobcaygeon – DL

City of Kawartha Lakes, Lindsay – LL until it was moved indoors.

Georgetown, Mold Master arena – DL

Hamilton, Beasley Bowl – DL

Hamilton, Parkdale Arena – PL

Hamilton, Turner – DL

Hamilton, Waterdown bowl - PL

King City – DL with controls
Kitchener, Fischer Skatepark - DL

Madoc, Centre Hastings Skatepark – DL

Milton Community Park – DL

Mississauga, City Centre – DL

Mississauga, Icelands – DL

Oshawa, Donevon – DL

Peterborough – DL

Picton – DL
Richmond Hill, Lake Wilcox Youth Park - DL
Toronto, Ashbridges Bay - New lighting coming in 2020

Toronto, Smithfeild – Tennis court DL

Toronto, Lawrence & Weston – PL

Toronto, Underpass - DL

Toronto, Vanderhoof Bowl – Power supply available. BYO Lights

Vaughan, 12 Oaks – PL

Vaughan, Carville Mill – PL

Vaughan, Hillside – PL

Vaughan, Sonoma Heights – PL

Vaughan, Villa Royale - DL

Whitby, Mckinney – DL

Good News for Georgetown

Good News for Georgetown

Halton Hills Action Sports Website.

Other Parks in Halton Hills.

Georgetown

Acton

Laura Secord Skatepark

Laura Secord Skatepark

This nice little spot on the west side of Vaughan, ON is the cities 9th skatepark. Located at Killington Ave and Richler Ave.

My 326th park

Pickering Rec Complex Skatepark Concept

Pickering Rec Complex Skatepark Concept

The Pickering Skateboard Park Strategy Draft includes a concept park for the front of the Rec Complex. The (latest) Draft can be found HERE.

The park concept is on page 21.

You can leave feedback with the City at communityservices@pickering.ca until December 6th or in person at the open house on Monday November 27th @ 5:30-8:00pm.

There are a few minor changes I would like to see and have detailed them below.

1) Feature 'B' - add shallow end stairs to the bowl.

2) Feature 'F' - Concrete the whole thing to allow for manuals and reduce number of sides. Add over/under ledge to side closest to the Rec Complex.

3) Feature 'G' - Low to high 'A' frame rail 
4) Remove roller bump from south end of park.

Let the city know what you think of the Strategy and the park or leave a comment below and I'll make sure it gets passed along because if you don't...

ps. slapping is bad.


The Follow Up
The Open House was very well attended by skaters and other members of the public. The other skaters gave feedback on the design concept and Skatepark Strategy.

Pickering Skateboard Park Strategy Open House

Pickering Skateboard Park Strategy Open House

Next step of the Pickering Skateboard Park strategy is November 27 at the Pickering Recreation Complex on Valley Farm Rd. Drop by and check out this Draft and make recommendations. It will then go to Council in the new year! That could(I repeat, could) mean new concrete in 2018. Spread the word and come show your support.

The Drafts are now available for you viewing on the City of Pickering website.

CLICK HERE.

Halloween 2017

Halloween 2017

The Halloween of Skateboard Industry Love

This year, just before Halloween, I was wandering through a store and found a giant fuzzy panda head. That was all the inspiration I needed to decide on what my costume would be. 
Over the years I've had some pretty fun costumes over the years.

Zoidberg

Be a ManWolf Today

This year I channeled Enjoi Rider and Team Manager Louie Barletta. 



I even managed a Barletta-esque trick & one of my friends sent it via DM to Louie and he checked out my Instagram.


Clip is in the video below.

Skatelife Toronto's Tricks for Treats was a fantastic way to kick off our indoor season. 

BTW, Skating in the Panda head are hard. Skating in a sweater vest is hot.


It turns out I wasn't the only one showing love for the skate industry. 


My friend Drew(left) went as JD, the owner of 'The Local' skateshop in Hamilton, ON.


This kid went as Aaron Kyro from the Braille Skate Youtube videos.


@Tara420 went as a  set of Indy Trucks!

@scott_kmiec went as Animal Chin from the classic Powell Peralta video. 


Speaking of which, @prestonsk8s went out as Skateboarding legend, Bones Brigade founder and film maker Stacy Peralta.


Legend Tony Hawk also went as Stacy Peralta.


Not to be outdone by his famous dad, Keegan Hawk went as 1980's Tony Hawk & Tavin Way went as his father, Danny Way.

The Diamond Supply Co. Halloween Hellride was off the hook.

Deathwish Pro Jaime Foy went as his Big Boy Foy board graphic.

Also attending the Hellride was Birdhouse Pro Clive Dixon dressed as fellow Birdhouse Pro Lizzie Armanto, complete with bubble tea.

Lizzie went out as boyfriend and Toy Machine Pro Axel Cruysbergs' board graphic.

Hopefully I get this right. Axel is Birdhouse Pro Ben Raybourn.
There's a Panda(Enjoi?), Big Bad Wolf, Possibly Blood Wizard Rider Jerry Gurney, some checkerboard clown, Clifford The big Red Dog, Little Red Riding Hood, Bob and Louise Bencher(bob's Burgers) someone who looks comfortable in her Kigurumi.

Lastly, the winner of Halloween(according to the internet) Nora Vasconcellos as Leticia Bufoni. Photo by @ZORAHOLIVIA

Fundy Bay Skatepark Design Meeting

Fundy Bay Skatepark Design Meeting and follow up.

(Hey Y'all! It's Open. Photos coming soon, hopefully.)

Ward 39 Skatepark design workshop is happening next week. Ward 39 Councillor Jim Karygiannis has secured funding and a location for a permanent concrete skatepark at Fundy Bay Park in Scarborough. Newline skateparks has been hired to design the park. 

Tuesday October 24th.  6:30 - 8:30pm
Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute Library
200 Fundy Bay Blvd. Scarborough
.

The budget is for a park about this size. This is probably a park in Alberta.


*Follow Up

The meeting was well attended but a small group began voicing opposition to the skatepark. They quickly found they were outnumbered by people that supported the park.
They were opposed to tax dollars being spent on a skatepark. They were informed the skatepark cash was not coming out of the tax base but a developer fund. They said this was the first they had heard about a skatespot in Fundy Bay Park. Again, they were told this plan has been in the works for a year and a half. They made other claims about noise and the park being too busy. 
The staff moved to the playground project and the 2 NIMBYs slinked out, presumibly to ambush Councillor Jim Karygiannis(who was running late), in the hall.


We transitioned to the skatepark design workshop with Bill from New Line Skateparks. The councillor arrived and asked if he could interject. He thanked us for attending and talked about the project. It was started by students at the high school with a petition for a skatepark and the project is supported by the three schools in the area. He then said the project is moving forward despite how 'some' may feel about it and the time to say 'we don't want it' was over a year ago.

I can't wait to see what newline comes up with.

More progress in West Shore

On September 13th at the Pickering West Shore Community Association AGM, Pat presented his sensory garden concept and I presented the West Shore Skate Spot proposal. Councillor Maurice Brenner was on hand and shall I say...on board! The membership had a lot of questions and concerns but by the end of the meeting the majority supported the proposals. 

Had a quick skate before the meeting.

Pat presented his Sensory Garden concept.

Councillor Brenner discussed the projects and other neighbourhood issues.

The membership votes overwhelming in favour of continuing our Skatepark and Garden projects. 

Note* I snapped this picture after the membership had voted and missed most of the raised hands.

Councillor Maurice Brenner continues to support the projects in the community.

Frankford, ON

Frankford, ON

If you followed the link from the Canada Skateboard Skatepark Map, I'm Sorry.

Since the map was created, I've been at odds with CS over the map and their use of my skatepark map, blog and photos. I had to push to be listed as a media partner, something that CS promised as part of creating the map with my work. I have, on many occasions, asked for the map to be fixed as the pin for the Frankford, ONTARIO skatepark is in Frankford, MICHIGAN. As this is the Canada Wide Skatepark map, I though correcting this pin in the United States might be a priority or at least handled within the year. Well, it seems there's been some turn over in the organization and the last 2 people I'd been dealing with are no longer there and there was a job posting for the position in early 2024. I even applied but did not get an interview.  Hopefully I can connect with the new person in this position and get things fixed and updated, since there hasn't been an update in ~3years.

For more about the park, including the address click HERE