Urban planner and skater Jay Heule has spent time researching DIY skate spots in Calgary. We have a strong DIY skateboarding scene, with four DIY spots in currently: Fonda Slab, the Bridge Spot, Bonavista, and Penguin Bowl (currently closed by the City).
A summary of Jay’s research states: “Skateboarding is a global community that creatively reappropriates the urban environment, often facing a tense relationship with the public and governing bodies. Through a literature review of planning theories and relevant planning documents, and three semi-structured interviews with individuals involved in building skateboarding, this research examines the development of DIY (Do It Yourself) skate spots in Calgary, Alberta, and the relationship between the skate community and the City of Calgary in co-creating the city. The methodological approach taken in this study is exploratory in nature, considering how the theories of tactical urbanism have been articulated in practice, and lessons learned that may support future DIY skate spot growth in Calgary, and beyond.”
To read the research, please click here: Building Skateboarding – An Exploration of DIY Skate Spots & Tactical Urbanism in Calgary, AB