I do not know. My gut says 1977 but can’t find anything to back that up. There used to be a comment linking to a doc on the park but when the link was dead I deleted it. Try asking Bill Danforth. I would but I’m afraid of him.
This park is terrible but there isn't much else around. There is a huge plot of land next to the park unused too. The city really needs to make a new. not terribly designed park.
Hey was there ever an answer on the year it was built? Bill Danforth told me 79’ but that was opening day. If there’s a documentary about this place I would really love to see it. CVHC!
I saw those videos. We made sure to check out some of the street spots that are still there from those. I just want to find some solid info on who built it and when maybe even why? Newspaper archives or something hahah
This skate park was the best in the 80s & 90s. If only it could talk. Many of talented skaters spent many hours there. There would be about 100 people there every day .. crushing it. Lots of people broke limbs there .. we used to jump BMX bike over 5 garbage cans and land in the road . Was good tines. Was the only park back then.people would come over from U.S.A to hit the park
We knew it was late 70’s but we’re never really sure. I can’t find the article now but about 10 years back I came across one saying 79’ relating that is was built one year after Seylynn in Van. It was great park to have through the eighties and early 90’s. Danforth used to show up out of the blue and tear the place to shreds. If anyone in Sarnia knows any of the crew from back then Shane Hebert, Justin Nichols or Tom Merraw they’ll likely know. I’ll ask Shane and see what he says but I believe Bill was correct with 79. Cool thread to stumble on. Where the rails are now the nopping had so much steel and aluminum imbedded in it that the sparks from grinding it full speed were epic. When did they put those rails in. Is the beer store still across the street? Growing up back there other than loading docks it was the only thing park wise around for hours in southern Ontario back then. There is the Mckeough diversion dam but it was never really skateable but fun for a 40ft drop in. There was the dam in Dundas and Beasley in Hamilton. There was a cool indoor park with an 11ft Hallie with a 16ft spine but that was 89’ earliest and London used to have a big steel half pipe at the bottom of Dundas in the park by the river. Lots of good rideable ashphalt loading docks back then everywhere as well. We were stoked to have it and took its heritage and importance for granted and skated it every chance we had. Power slides down the little tit and epic snake run sessions. That hip was gnarly and total lack of transition would buck you hard sometimes. Glad to know it’s still there and getting skated. We used to park cars on then beer store side launch and bomb it from the top of the big tit and go right over em. Hot wire the old city lights for night time sessions and just like today anywhere spent a lot of time pushing water out of it with brooms, squeegees and tshirts. Bombing the blue water bridge then going for fires and swim under it was also a pretty good time. You’d probably get shot for that now. Pete used to have the only skate shop south of Rainbow in London for years in late 80’s but Port Huron had the best one…. And good record stores for punk and metal can’t remember what it was called now though. Later 🤙🏻
40+ years. I'm pretty sure it was built in the late 70's.
ReplyDeleteWhat year was it build. We're having a debate over here
ReplyDeleteI do not know. My gut says 1977 but can’t find anything to back that up. There used to be a comment linking to a doc on the park but when the link was dead I deleted it. Try asking Bill Danforth. I would but I’m afraid of him.
DeleteThis park is terrible but there isn't much else around. There is a huge plot of land next to the park unused too. The city really needs to make a new. not terribly designed park.
ReplyDeleteHey was there ever an answer on the year it was built? Bill Danforth told me 79’ but that was opening day. If there’s a documentary about this place I would really love to see it. CVHC!
ReplyDeleteI’d say Bill’s the expert. I can’t located the doc but there’s 40min of footage from 1989 on youtube.
DeleteI saw those videos. We made sure to check out some of the street spots that are still there from those. I just want to find some solid info on who built it and when maybe even why? Newspaper archives or something hahah
DeleteThis skate park was the best in the 80s & 90s. If only it could talk. Many of talented skaters spent many hours there. There would be about 100 people there every day .. crushing it. Lots of people broke limbs there .. we used to jump BMX bike over 5 garbage cans and land in the road . Was good tines. Was the only park back then.people would come over from U.S.A to hit the park
ReplyDeleteWe knew it was late 70’s but we’re never really sure. I can’t find the article now but about 10 years back I came across one saying 79’ relating that is was built one year after Seylynn in Van. It was great park to have through the eighties and early 90’s. Danforth used to show up out of the blue and tear the place to shreds. If anyone in Sarnia knows any of the crew from back then Shane Hebert, Justin Nichols or Tom Merraw they’ll likely know. I’ll ask Shane and see what he says but I believe Bill was correct with 79. Cool thread to stumble on. Where the rails are now the nopping had so much steel and aluminum imbedded in it that the sparks from grinding it full speed were epic. When did they put those rails in. Is the beer store still across the street? Growing up back there other than loading docks it was the only thing park wise around for hours in southern Ontario back then. There is the Mckeough diversion dam but it was never really skateable but fun for a 40ft drop in. There was the dam in Dundas and Beasley in Hamilton. There was a cool indoor park with an 11ft Hallie with a 16ft spine but that was 89’ earliest and London used to have a big steel half pipe at the bottom of Dundas in the park by the river. Lots of good rideable ashphalt loading docks back then everywhere as well. We were stoked to have it and took its heritage and importance for granted and skated it every chance we had. Power slides down the little tit and epic snake run sessions. That hip was gnarly and total lack of transition would buck you hard sometimes. Glad to know it’s still there and getting skated. We used to park cars on then beer store side launch and bomb it from the top of the big tit and go right over em. Hot wire the old city lights for night time sessions and just like today anywhere spent a lot of time pushing water out of it with brooms, squeegees and tshirts. Bombing the blue water bridge then going for fires and swim under it was also a pretty good time. You’d probably get shot for that now. Pete used to have the only skate shop south of Rainbow in London for years in late 80’s but Port Huron had the best one…. And good record stores for punk and metal can’t remember what it was called now though. Later 🤙🏻
ReplyDeleteAmazing info. Thanks
DeleteSorry for the edit and spelling lol, I’ve had a few. That indoor park was in Puce just outside of Windsor.
ReplyDelete