A new skateboard park will be rolled out in Okotoks.
Town council gave the go-ahead for the project during its meeting on Sept. 11. Howard Park, located near Foothills Composite High School, was deemed the best site after several locations were considered.
The skateboard park will be accessible and open to skateboards, scooters, BMX bikes and rollerblades.
Existing parking and a washroom facility were factors that supported the location, and it is connected via the Town’s pathway system.
A skateboard park was approved by council in the 2023 multi-year capital budget, but design and construction has been moved up a year from the original timeline.
Work is set to begin this winter, with $50,000 budgeted for design. An additional $750,000 is budgeted for construction that will start in 2024.
The Town said the skateboard park will be a destination amenity and draw people from inside and outside of Okotoks.
An existing playground at the site will be removed, but it’s reached the end of its lifespan and there are three additional playgrounds within 500 metres of Howard Park, the Town said.
During the design process, the Town will seek feedback from the public and future users.
On Friday, Sept. 22, the Town is hosting a Fall Freestyle Competition at the skateboard park adjacent to the Okotoks Recreation Centre.
The "all wheels" competition is free and open to all ages and abilities. Scooters, skateboards, BMX bikes and rollerblades are welcome.
Registration begins on site at 3:30 p.m. and the competition goes from 4 to 7 p.m., with a youth night afterwards.
