May 7, 2013 | By-laws, Headlines, News, Photos, Skateboarding, Spots
Global News reports that the City is putting in place measures to keep people from skating the benches, banked hip, and other obstacles at the corner of 10th St and Memorial Dr NW. It appears they’re installing strategically placed planters as well as cameras in an effort to curb skateboarding, BMX, and mountain biking at the spot.
Bylaw officers have threatened to ticket offenders to the tune of $200.
It is an amazing skate spot and obviously no one skating there is intending to disrespect the site or the people it memorializes. The fact that it has seen such heavy use is a testament to the fact that Calgary skateboarders are starved for new facilities. It goes to show that we don’t need a giant concrete skatepark to have fun; as the Skateboard Amenities Strategy dictates, numerous small “skate spots” are planned.
May 6, 2013 | Interviews, Skateboarding
Bretton Brulotte is a 14 year old Calgary skateboarder who recently started a Facebook petition for more skateparks in Calgary. To date it has over 1,700 members and is growing daily. Bretton was overweight until he lost 70 pounds in the two years since he started skating. We asked him some questions about himself and the petition he started:
Hi Bretton, how long have you been skating?
About 2 years technically but I really started going to parks and progressing last summer.
What got you into skateboarding?
The Mission that opened in Aspen, went in there one day just to check it out and started asking about getting into skating. The guy that worked there showed me Guy Mariano’s part from fully flared, the creativity and art that I saw in skating inspired me to start and I bought my first board soon after, it was a Mariano deck.
Why do you like it and keep doing it?
Everything about skating is awesome. Its the coolest art, sport and community you could imagine. Skateboarding keeps me active and getting exercise every day for multiple hours and I have met my best friends in skateboarding.
Are your parents supportive?
For sure, before I skated I would never get any physical activity and hated doing any sport. My parents used to put me on soccer teams that I hated. Skating gets me 3 or more hours of exercise a day and I’ve got some really good friends through it.
Where do you usually skate?
Westside in the summer– it’s small but it’s a safe place that my parents don’t hesitate to let me skate at. Having more supervised parks or even just good parks in more youth friendly parts of the city would be a good idea.
Where do you skate during the winter months?
In the winter Skate Church when I can get there, Millennium but my parents don’t really feel safe sending me there, and my garage.
What made you start a Facebook petition for skateparks in Calgary?
There was a lot of negative energy towards the city and I wanted to change that into passion to make a change. I wanted to show that there was need for parks and places for us to skate. At the end of the day i just wanted to do whatever I could for what I’m passionate about.
Why do you think Calgary is so far behind compared to other cities when it comes to skateparks?
Having the mountains so close is one factor, the city may not see need for amenities within the city with such natural beauty so close and don’t understand what a large part of our lives skateboarding is. Money is probably another, we are one of the wealthiest cities in the country and many people go to lakes and wake board or the mountains to ski or snowboard but skateboarding is a lifestyle and just isn’t substituted by other sports and is more accessible than others.
May 4, 2013 | News, Skateboarding, Skateparks
Southview Alliance Church (SAC) Skate Park will be open this year from May 8 to August 28 every Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. It features a 4 foot mini-ramp, quarter pipe, ledge, manny pads, flat bars, and a pyramid with a hubba. There will also be a BBQ and snack stand. The park is located at 1436 James McKevitt Road SW. Admission is a suggested donation of $5 — the money will be spent repairing and rebuilding ramps this summer.
May 2, 2013 | Activism, By-laws, CASE News, History, Indoor, Photos, Skateboarding, Skateparks
Thanks to everyone who came out to our AGM on May 1st. We reviewed our year and talked about what we plan on doing in the coming year.
High Ollie contest at Go Skate Day 2012
The 2012 fiscal year was a good one for CASE and Calgary skateboarding. Here are some of the things we accomplished:
-consulted with City officials on Skateboard Amenities Strategy
-raised funds through benefit rock show at The Palomino
-increased web traffic and Facebook reach
-met with several communities who have an interest in skateparks
-worked with the City to find a work around for the ramp by-law
-conducted interviews with several media outlets including TV, print, and radio
-held Go Skateboarding Day events/contests
-cleaned up Millennium Park in our annual Spring Clean Up
-sponsored/helped out with contests at Millennium, Westside, and McKenzie Towne parks
-helped out with Boarding 4 ‘Betes event at Millennium park.
-skate art auction to raise funds
As a result of the hard work of city administration, officials, and CASE, an RFP (request for proposals) was issued by the city. The RFP asked for firms to submit proposals to implement the Skateboard Amenities Strategy.
“Scope of requirements for this project includes communication, site selection, concept planning, construction drawings, and construction tendering.”
The RFP closed on April 30th, 2013 and promises a pretty aggressive timeline:
-Selection of highest rated proponent: two (2) to three (3) weeks after close of RFP
-Kick off meeting: 2013 June
-Finalize Project Scope with project Team: 2013 June
-Site Selection for all sites: 2013 end of July
-Participatory Design Process: 2013 end of November
-Construction Drawings: 2014 January
*The City reserves the right to modify any of the dates noted above.
Ringing the bell – Go Skate Day 2012
“The Skateboarding Amenities Strategy envisions the development of a network of fifty (50) outdoor skate parks across the city over the next ten (10) years. The total City of Calgary planning, design, development and construction budget for the first two (2) years of the Strategy is two million dollars ($2,000,000) in 2013 and two million dollars ($2,000,000) in 2014.”
Keep in mind that “fifty skateparks” is their vision. It may be more, it may be less. A more accurate figure to look at is the skatepark terrain square footage the Skateboard Amenities Strategy says Calgary is currently lacking by — 243,860 (P.70). The bottom line is we’ll have new skateparks by next year. Multiple parks. In different locations with varied terrain.
The City of Calgary has planned skateparks at these sites:
-Seton Regional Recreation Centre 18150 56 St SE (Neighbourhood Skatepark)
-North West Regional Recreation Centre 11300 Rocky Ridge Road NW (Community Skatepark)
The communities shown in the table below have expressed interest in having a skatepark in their area:
Another action item that has come up for CASE is the possibility of an indoor park. The City has put out an Expression of Interest for “DEVELOPING, PROMOTING AND OPERATING, AN ARTS, CULTURE AND/OR HERITAGE FACILITY”.
There is a city-owned building that will be usable by non-profit groups who are in line with the statement above. We’re hoping we’ll be able to convince the decision makers responsible that skateboarding is an arts/culture activity that would be suitable for use of this building.
Other stipulations include:
-Building would be leased from City at a nominal fee
-Operator will be responsible for all maintenance, taxes, and utilities
-Proposal due on June 4th
-Building has a large warehouse-type room with high ceilings, minimal support pillars
-Measures nearly 8,000 sqft
-Heated, well-lit, with washroom facilities
-Very close to Millennium Park
-LRT accessible
As you can see by the photo, a lot of people are looking to get in on this space. CASE is committed to submitting a full-detailed proposal for why this location would make an excellent indoor skatepark, which is badly needed in Calgary.
