City approves eight new skateparks

Through collaboration with Calgarians, the City has decided on eight sites to construct new skateparks as part of the Skateboard Amenities Strategy.

Chinook Park Kelvin Grove/Eagle Ridge, Huntington Hills and Southwood will see a skatepark built within a year.

"We have been working closely with the Calgary Association of Skateboard Enthusiasts, or CASE, for many years developing the Skateboard Amenities Strategy and earlier this year we held open houses to gather feedback from skateboard enthusiasts and the general public," said Greg Steinraths, manager of Sport and Partnership Development, Recreation. "The feedback we got was amazing and with this input we are happy to be moving forward on the eight new parks."

The Chinook Park Kelvin Grove/Eagle Ridge skatepark will be considered a skate spot which will be 150 to 600 metres square in size, about half the size of a basketball court. The other two locations will be neighbourhood skateparks, spreading 600 to 1200 metres square, about the size of a tennis court.

"CASE is very happy to see the three skateparks going ahead. We are thrilled that it is all finally coming together," said Zev Klymochko, CASE spokesperson.

The next step the city will be taking is to engage skatepark supporters and Calgarians in a participatory design process for the first three skateparks.