Creative Calgary Skaters
A few skilled and determined Calgary skaters have taken matters into their own hands and created their own indoor facility. Judging by these early pics, it looks like they’re going to have a fun winter!
Incline Indoor Park – Sylvan Lake
Here’s a look at what can be expected at the Incline indoor park in Sylvan Lake:
Skateboarding Strategy Update
An important meeting in the history of Calgary skateboarding took place at City Hall today, and it represents a significant step forward for skateboarding in our city. A committee of City Council formally received the Skateboarding Amenities Strategy, a document that makes a very strong case for more skateparks in Calgary, and recommends:
- Building 22,655m2 (243,860 ft2) of additional skatepark space to meet current needs (25,791m2 (277,607ft2) will be needed over the next 10 years)
- A network of skateparks of different sizes and styles across the city
- The skateparks be accessible by skateboarders, bmxers, inline skaters, scooters, roller skaters and longboarders.
- A 20 000 sq ft indoor skatepark
- All to be funded by a combination of City, provincial, federal, and private sector money
Download a copy of the strategy here
Go Skateboarding Day 2011 at Millennium Park
CASE representatives spoke in support of the Strategy, as did several members of the public. Special thanks for their contributions go out to Tyler G (youth skater), Jeff C (who at 48, skates regularly with his son), Devon R from the BMX community, Tim B from the Calgary Sport Council, Craig G from McKenzie Towne, Matt J from Evergreen, Vince B from Dalhousie Skate Church, and Oscar Fech a well known civic activist and past Mayoral candidate who all spoke strongly in favour of the strategy.
Chris H, one of the leaders behind the Fellowship of Calgary Skateboarders who pushed for the building of Shaw Millennium Park also spoke in favor of the strategy. Chris presented a document from the time when Millennium was being planned showing plans to build other skateparks in Calgary after Millennium. The plan was overlooked after the next civic election and Calgary was left with a single publicly owned skatepark. Councilor Carra proposed an amendment requiring City administration to bring this current strategy forward for review after the next election, so it would not be forgotten too. Councilor Pincott seconded the motion, which was passed.
What’s The Next Step?
Before anyone lifts a pencil to start building Calgary’s next skatepark, the strategy needs to be approved by Council, where it will probably be presented in January. Not everyone believes in skateparks, and some won’t support tax money going to these projects. Our opponents will be vocal (Calgary Herald Dec. 7/11, Calgary Sun Dec. 7/11), so we need to be sure that out voice is heard too. Please contact your City Councillor and the Mayor to express your support now, and again in the new year
Mayor
Naheed Nenshi: Website | Email
Councilors:
Who is your City Councilor? List by residential community
Ward 13: Diane Colley-Urquhart
Calgary Herald Article
City urged to get on board with skateboards
Facilities need to catch up to skateboarding craze
By Richard Cuthbertson, Calgary Herald December 3, 2011 8:40 AM
It’s been more than 30 years since Skatopia 1 in Calgary’s Franklin Industrial Park became Canada’s first indoor concrete skate park.
One old photo taken at the site shows a 1970s skateboarder, knee-high sport socks and all, riding the edge of what looks to be a dry swimming pool.
But even with its early start, skateboarding facilities in Calgary have dragged well behind the growing interest in the sport.
A new consultant’s report, commissioned by the city, is recommending dozens of skate parks be built over the next decade, carrying an estimated price tag of $11 million.
The new strategy, which is heading to a council committee next week, comes after years of complaints from skateboarders.
“The situation’s pretty simple. It’s just a gross lack of facilities,” said Zev Klymochko, with the advocacy group Calgary Association of Skateboarding Enthusiasts.
With more than 34,000 aficionados in the city, the consultant is recommending the construction of 45 smaller skate parks and “spots,” ranging in size from a half basketball court to full tennis court.
Five others would be larger, up to the size of a little league baseball field.
Ideally, they would be dispersed around the city, particularly at points where there is good interest in skateboarding, according to Ron Smith, a researcher with the city’s recreation department.
“According to the model that’s being proposed, ultimately and ideally you’d like to have various scales,” Smith said.
City officials aren’t recommending council hand over a lump sum. Rather, they suggest putting individual projects on the city’s culture and recreation infrastructure wish list for funding consideration, when potential sites have been found.
The city’s reputation seems to have been to build big, but not build many.
Skatopia 1 opened in 1977 and then closed in 1979 due to insurance costs.
A series of short-lived indoor parks, with names like Ramp-o-Rama, Skate Jungle and All Skool, popped up and then faded from view.
In 2000 Shaw Millennium Park opened – an outdoor facility which at the time was considered one of the premier skateboard spots in the world.
Westside Recreation Centre has a skate park, there is a modest spot in McKenzie Towne and the city does have some temporary, mobile skate parks.
But aside from that, there is little else.
One of the big current complaints is there are no indoor facilities in Calgary, although a church in Dalhousie does opens its gym to skateboarders.
RCUTHBERTSON@ CALGARYHERALD.COM
CASE Needs YOU, Have YOU Joined Yet?
Everyone knows that Calgary BADLY needs more skateparks, and CASE has been working hard to make this happen. We have been advocating for a network of skateparks and skate spots across the city and an important step towards that vision will take place in December. CASE has been collaborating with register as a CASE member and “like” us on Facebook so you will know what is going on, and know what you can do so Calgary can have more skateparks, including an indoor park, soon!
Incline Industries Indoor Park – Sylvan Lake
The indoor park Incline Industries in Sylvan Lake just reopened after undergoing extensive renovations. By the looks of the photos on their Facebook page, it looks much more skate-oriented than before and really fun. Definitely worth the drive.
