Toronto's DIY: epilogue

Toronto's DIY: epilogue

Toronto's DIY was demo'd early in the morning on Nov 7th.

It unfortunately came to an end despite the support of several area residents and workers.  It has brought the subject of DIY and skateparks to the attention of some city staff. Recently, a city report was released stating the city does not have enough skateboarding areas.

Interestingly enough, the factory next to the spot was also subject to some media coverage with a poison gas cloud the previous weekend.  STORY HERE.

Check out their Facebook page for more video and news coverage.

Save Toronto's DIY Skatepark

Save Toronto's DIY Skatepark

I know of a little DIY in Toronto that is in danger of being removed by the city. I haven't skated there myself but I've heard it's fun and fast.

Sign The Petition

Toronto skateboarders have turned a derelict dead end corner into a thriving community DIY skatepark. Local businesses who support the initiative have informed the builders that City has plans to demolish the structure.

Permanent DIY skateparks have become essential community fixtures in Montreal, Vancouver, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle and various other cities. They are international cultural hubs and Toronto is missing out.

The park has spawned a community skateboarders who are dedicated to taking care of the space and integrating into the community. 

Watch this video to hear directly from the community https://youtu.be/i8-uKT0tCrg
Please send emails in support to City Councillor Ana Bailão and Provincial Offences Officer Construction Activities Wojtech Goral

councillor_bailao@toronto.ca
wgoral@toronto.ca

Caledon & Alton

Caledon is getting a new skatepark!

Alton is getting a BMX park!

Pembroke

Pembroke

The Pembroke Skatepark AKA The Rapids Skatepark

Small Flow/Shred park with a pretty good use of a smaller footprint. 

Albert St. & Lake St.

The Latest on New Skateparks in Pickering

The Latest on New Skateparks in Pickering

Note* There is some speculation here and nothing has been verified.

When last I corresponded with my source in the Parks Dept. he informed me they were presenting to Council in October and putting forward a skatepark strategy and recommending a firm(a good one, I was told).  I though this meant something exclusively for skateparks and they meant either Spectrum Skateparks or Newline Skateparks.

I was wrong.

What was put to Council was a 'Recreational & Parks Master Plan And Skateboard Park Strategy' and that Monteith Brown Planning Consultants be accepted to create such a plan. (Boring council stuff I went through so you don't have to HERE and HERE) Monteith Brown has been involved with parks master plans in London, ON (12 skateparks) and Ajax, ON(3 skateparks) and they are thorough.  In fact, their master plan for Aurora is the only place I've found any mention of Aurora's Thompson Park Skate Spot.

Thompson Park Skate Spot

I am awaiting confirmation but I'm hopeful that the Skateboard Park Strategy includes both large and small facilities spread around Pickering like is the case in London and Vaughan.

St Thomas

St Thomas

Railcity Skatepark

Got out to St Thomas for park #300 on a cool October day. Great park with a rail way theme.

 Quarter with steep wall.

 Slappy train track rail.

 Mini-bowl pocket

 My darling wife joined me for park 300.

Railway Museum and Railcity Skatepark.

Quick tour.

Located Behind Timken Community Centre
3rd Ave. St. Thomas, ON

Aylmer, ON

Aylmer, ON

In Optimist Park

Parkview Heights & Chestnut St. W.

10th Line & Aquitaine

10th Line & Aquitaine

The Final Five

The Final Five

I started throwing around "The Final Five' in reference to the 5 skateparks needed to hit 300. Having hit #200 in 2013, 100 in 2011 and only started counting in 2006 I thought 300 should be a great park.

296

Greengate Skate Spot, Cambridge, ON

I hit this small spot at the end of August on the way to Guelph.

Full Post Here

297

Silvercreek Skatepark, Guelph, ON

I got to this beautiful new park and got to skate with Kurt of the Dirty Jags.

This park is so popular other nearby communities and switched plans from modular skateparks to PIP after seeing the difference. 

Full Post Here.

298

10th Line & Aquitaine, Mississauga, ON.

A smalled, mostly pre-cast concrete park in the west end. I hit this first thing in the morning after a night shift.

299....sort of.

The Eganville skatepark is on holiday...permanently, I think.

299

Visited the Pembroke Skatepark while up visiting a friend. It is very popular and maybe too small for it's popularity. Hopefully it gets a phase 2.

300

I wanted 300 to have some meaning and be a great park. I chose St. Thomas' new Railcity Skatepark because I liked the design by Newline Skateparks and the early footage is great. Some people on Instagram told me to take a broom and they were right. The park is done and open but it's in the middle of a huge construction project.  I went with my darling wife, Amy, on a cooler day. We had to stop and buy gloves.  

I love how train track was used in the park. 

We had fun. I fell on my butt really hard. The type of butt fall where you feel it in your head. 

Concrete just seems harder when it's cold outside.

301

I hit another park on the way back to the highway, because why not? Why stop at 300?

I'll still hit almost every park possible but I'll make sure the road trip includes a quality park or two.