Pickering is seeking feedback on the
proposed West Shore Skate Spot
After 6 years, a Skateboard Park Strategy and countless other little milestones, the City of Pickering has proposed a new skateboard spot at the West Shore Community Centre and wants your feedback. Click the link below for the city presentation and survey (until May 31, 2021 - NOW CLOSED).
Pickering West Shore Skate Spot
It's been a long time coming (see how we got here -> LINK) but the city has posted a survey and is taking feedback on the proposed West Shore Skate Spot (& check out this post about the WSSS - HERE). The comments on social media have been mostly positive (I'm actually surprised) so far but there has been a few of the typical negative comments. Let's address them.
1) Comment 'We're getting tickets for parking there' Answer - Yeah, It's a pandemic and the city closed the parking lots. If you parked in a closed parking lot, you get a ticket.
2) Comment 'Not many kids are skateboarding' Answer - Wrong
3) Comment 'What about the 2019 budget for the baseball diamonds?' Answer - Ok, this is a good one. The 2019 budget also included 200K for this skate spot and when I was wondering why concrete wasn't being poured in '19 I was informed the 2019 budget is for spending in the 2021 year. Also, people seem to assume that when a skatepark is built it takes something from them. We can have a skatepark AND a baseball diamond.
4) Comment 'You should build a splash pad and a Skate board pad at a Ball diamond...' Answer - Agreed! I love when a splash pad is near the skatepark so I can dunk my head and kids can be exposed to skateboarding. In fact, Bay Ridges Kinsmen Park ( where there are ball diamonds, a playground and tennis courts) is another potential location for a skate spot.
5) Comment 'Why ruin a Natural spot?' (This came up more than once) Answer - It's not a natural spot (see photo below). It was the heavy machine parking for a nearby ravine project. After the project, the parking lot was expanded and the area was re-sodded and some sick trees were planted. Most of the trees are pretty sick and pathetic and will likely be replaced when the park is built.
6) Comment 'We have trouble with people carrying on when they rent the community centre.' Answer - Alright, firstly, if you are spotting bad behavior (fights as you claim) at the community centre during rentals ( & fyi, there hasn't been a hall rental since the beginning of the pandemic. The CC hosts a nursery school, karate, ballet and has hosted pop-up vaccination clinics) you are within your rights to complain to the city or call the police. Secondly, it amuses me when skaters somehow get the blame for bad behavior before there's a skatepark in the area. At one open house I attended in Burlington, a local resident claimed the bus shelter had been smashed several times. I asked, politely, 'are you suggesting that skaters are coming into the neighbourhood to smash the bus shelter?' She got very quiet.
7) Comment 'People drive too fast on Bayly (the adjacent road)' Answer - True, but by people do you mean yourself and your neighbours? Road Safety is everyone's responsibility and I would like to see increased speed traps or speed cameras in the area. Additionally, large landscaping boulders have been suggested as a way of separating the spot from the sidewalk. They would provide some protection if a car were to leave the road and provide seating.
8) Comment 'there will be trash etc.' Answer - Yeah, probably. Especially since there are no trash bins at the site currently. I have requested trash bins for the waterfront trail and have been waiting for 6+ weeks. I've also been picking up trash at this site for 3+ years when I skate the parking lot and I haven't seen anyone else cleaning up trash in that time (despite one commenter stating she's 'always' cleaning up trash there)
9) Comment 'Waste of money /' Answer - Wrong. The cost of of the construction aside, the annual maintenance cost of the skatepark is less than that of the grass it's replacing. Regarding the cost of construction, a Skatepark costs roughly $50/sqf, with larger skateparks coming in at ~800k where as turf soccer fields are in the 3mil price range. The city is installing Baseball Diamond lighting this summer at a cost of >150k.
10) Comment 'What about the skatepark at the Rec Complex?' Answer - Well, the city, in their infinite wisdom, created a City Centre master plan that includes condos, the mall, a seniors centre & a youth centre. It didn’t include room for a skatepark (they have since found an area). There is also a plan for a North/South road connecting Kingston with Bayly. This road will go directly through the current skateparks location. I don’t have any timeline on the decommission of the skatepark.
11) Comment 'of course the West Shore Rate Payers support it. They don't have to live next to it.' Answer - Well, first, 'West Shore Rate Payers' isn't a thing. Second, the Pickering West Shore Community Association does support it and has since 2017. PWSCA is not as exclusive club and anyone living in West Shore (including the 120 Townhouses on Bayly) can be a member or follow the facebook group. There are a few people who see this as a punishment but it is a reward for others hard work and support.
12) Comment 'We want X'. Answer - Weather it's outdoor rinks, splash pads, pickleball or pools, skaters want you to have those things too. Get a group together, approach council and ask. The mayor isn't acting on facebook comments, get your act together. This skate spot made it to this point by the efforts of groups of skaters and PWSCA working with the city.
13) Comment - 'Put it at Dunmore park.' Answer - NO! Geez Fran, you don't seem to care about the people who live next to Dunmore park as much as you care about the park not being near you. Also, Dunmore, despite being in the skatepark strategy is a terrible location for a skatepark. I recommended it be removed from the strategy draft with 2 other parks that were removed. It is secluded which will lead to all the same problems that the current park has, and everyone points out to oppose additional parks.
14) Comment - It's not a very easy location for teenagers to get to. I'd rather see it in the city centre.' Answer - Sorry, let me finish facepalming first. Ok, IT IS easily accessible if you live in West Shore or Bay Ridges which is the 'service area' of the spot. Other spots, including the Civic Centre park, are in the works. You don't build one playground for a city of 90000. You put them where the people are. Same with skate spots.
There are 128 comments (at last check) on one of the city's facebook posts with a few loud, dissenting voices and many, many, many more people supporting the project and calling out the NIMBY's. I know I can't change everyone's mind but I'll keep doing my best to be a good representative of what skateboarding really means.
Also Check out Skatepark Advocacy Burnout for other dealings.
Here's to more skateparks.
The Survey Closed with 91% support. Here's what I sent to Council.
Good afternoon Mr. Mayor and members of Council.
I am writing on behalf of Pickering’s Skateboarders, Skatepark Users and parents of Skatepark users to voice support for the West Shore Community Centre Skateboard Spot. It should be noted that this small spot will not solve all of Pickering’s Skatepark needs but it is the first step. Of course with any project, there has been some negative and unrelated feedback. I have been following the comments on social media and hope to answer some questions and relay other feedback regarding the needs of Pickering residents.
Skateboarding and skatepark usership has exploded during the pandemic with more people discovering or returning to skateboarding and Skate Shops finding it difficult to keep up with demand. Skateparks are in the top 4 of City facilities in terms of hours of use, just behind Gyms, Pools, and walking trails.
There were several comments about pump tracks. Pump tracks are rolling, curving trails that are fun for scooters, bikes and skateboards depending on the surface. Many new pump tracks are being made with asphalt and because of their free forms, can be built in areas without disturbing the existing trees. Pump tracks and Flow Parks are great for users who are out for fun without attempting tricks or lines of scooters who play a ‘follow the leader’ game.
I have been in contact with two families that suggested multi-use pads that can be flooded in the winter for a skate path. In the summer, Riverdale Skate Pad hosts a skateboard obstacle called a grind box on a section of the trial. A ‘V’ shaped skatepark in Vaughan is connected to a huge flat area that serves as skating rink in the winter
The City of Fredericton recently announced a Skateboard and Helmet rental program through the cities Public Library. An increased interest in skateboarding has been spurred by the completion of Fredericton's city wide skatepark. While Skateboarding is a relatively low cost activity, this library program allows interested parties of all ages to try skateboarding without committing to the purchase of equipment. https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/
There was also a recent Zoom Conference on how skateparks can be adapted to be more accommodating for individuals with disabilities. Adaptive Skateboarding and WCMX (Wheel Chair Moto Cross) are becoming increasingly popular with and Adaptive & WCMX Event being held at this years Dew Tour in Des Moines.
Felipe Nunes skates Men's Adaptive Park in Des Moines.
Several of the public concerns about the West Shore location is it’s security and relation to Bayly Street and Speeding Drivers. A CCTV camera has been suggested and the Skatepark users welcome the idea. The skatepark in Fort Erie is on ‘Nanny Cam’ which is viewable online. The bad behavior of drivers should be adjusted through increased enforcement, preferably a speed camera. One discussion suggested having large landscaping boulders between the sidewalk and the skate spot. This would provide protection in the unlikely event that a car were to leave the road and also provide seating.
Additional Seating by the park in Stratford.
Another concern was for the loss of natural greenspace. As I’m sure Council is aware, a 2014 erosion control project in the Vistula Ravine was using this area as parking for heavy machinery. It was sodded afterward and several trees were planted. This skate spot will not take up the entirety of this sodded area, only a small path. Of the 9 trees planted in 2014, 6 are in poor condition.
As parks continue to be built and redeveloped, the city must consider the needs of Skatepark users. We do not need giant skateparks everywhere but a single obstacle, carefully designed and constructed to withstand the activity of skateboarding, should be included in every park to allow for increased skateboarding opportunities throughout the city. These obstacles can be simple ledges or multi-use sculptural art. In a few short weeks, Skateboarding will make its debut at the Olympic Games featuring Men and Women from every Continent and ages ranging from 12 to 46!
Skateable 'WOW' sculpture.
Thank you to Council and City Staff who have been working for 6 years on the Skateboard Park Strategy and beyond. Pickering’s pop-up skatepark will undoubtedly be popular this summer.
I am always available should you have any questions regarding skateparks.
Scott Loyst
Pickering Skateparks Alliance
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