If Day 1 is any indication, the new Silvercreek Skatepark is a rousing success.
“It’s pretty smooth. Pretty mellow,” said skateboarder Cole McLennan of the park, which features ramps, bowls, jumps and rails for a wide variety of ability.
“For sure it’s great to have in the city, especially for free,” said McLennan, who usually skates on the street or at the private indoor The Ward skate facility.
Rich King said it had a nice mix of amenities and figured the skateboarding community was going to embrace it.
“This is going to be one busy place this summer,” King said.
Roughly 100 skaters, roller bladers, BMXers and scooter riders arrived at the city’s first ever permanent outdoor skatepark for its official opening Thursday afternoon, shortly after school got out.
“It’s been a long time coming, but this is great,” said Mayor Cam Guthrie, who officially launched the park by riding his BMX bicycle through the ceremonial ribbon rather than cut it.
“There has been a real need for something like this in a long time and I glad we finally got it done,” Guthrie said.
The Silvercreek Skatepark is located in Silvercreek Spark on the southwest corner of the Edinburgh Road/Wellington Street intersection.
The unsupervised park, which cost just over $900,000 to build, is open from dawn until dusk and is available to all ages, although the city asks that children under 10 be accompanied by an adult.
“This is one of the things that’s good about being on city council: when we get things done,” said Ward 4 councillor Mike Salisbury, who added he would like to see a bicycle skills park in the city next.
The city will hold a Go Skateboarding Day on June 21 from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., featuring live music, a free barbecue and giveaways.
