Construction has started on the skatepark at Sonoma Heights. Have a look at the progress!


Vaughan council finally approved the skatepark and it's slated to be built this summer! But we need your help to make sure its done right. There will be a public meeting in the coming weeks and rider attendance will ensure that angry residents and non-riders don't give us an inadequate park. Details to come.


There has been a deputation to the city to construct a Multi-use Skatepark Facility at Napa Valley Park (80 Napa Valley Avenue) in a small section of the grass. It will not displace or affect the existing playground or any structures - just augment the facility.

Our youth are forced to board and bmx in the streets in this neighbourhood. Every day kids who have outgrown the playgrounds are waxing curbs in the parking lot and dodging traffic.


The City wants to build this park, we just need them to know that the community supports and needs this facility! Please add your name to our support petition on the right side of this page. There will be a budget meeting some time in January to determine whether or not the City will fund the construction. The estimated cost for the design and construction is $135,000. Mr. Paul Gardner, Director of Parks Development has included this as part of the capital request in the 2012 capital budget for Council's consideration.

Whether you bike, board, blade, scooter or just like to watch, please participate in the discussion and make sure this gets going.









It's happening! 

Ok, so it's not in Elders Mills, but it's going to be just 2.5km away at Sonoma Heights Community Park

I met with Martin Tavares, the Construction Coordinator Parks Development, City of Vaughan to consult on the location and potential designs for the park at the end of March and the news is good. Real good.

Plans are for a neighbourhood level multi-use skate zone within the park. It's important to note that the purpose of this park is to provide basic elements for those beginners and intermediates that are learning to skateboard, inline skate and bmx. The design is essentially a training ground that will help you ultimately graduate to a bigger park.

There will be a community meeting this spring and its very important that we all show our support and enthusiasm for the park. Attendance is MANDATORY if you really want this to happen. There will be public consultation on the design, location and other details that will impact your use of the park. I'll update the group as I get more details. 

Stay tuned!

The attached pdf is a followup to the deputation Korben submitted. The short version is that it's not going to happen anytime before 2014.

The projects that have been approved include Artificial Turf for the Concord Regional Park Soccer Field to the tune of $1 million (?!?) All we wanted was 140k. Depressing.




I've heard from Vaughan City Council and unfortunately, the Napa Valley skatepark was not approved in the 2012 budget. 


I've been told that Councillor Carella will request the funding for it in the 2013 Budget. It was originally approved for the 2014 budget, but we'll try again to have it funded for 2013.


Please feel free to reach out to Councillor Tony CarellaCoucillor Deb Schulte or Councillor Sandra Racco Yeung to voice your concerns.



Thanks from Josh from Canadian Ramp Company for putting together some cool designs for the Park at Napa Valley. I've forwarded the designs along with detailed specs and costs to the City of Vaughan. Looks like there some movement at City Hall - Keep your fingers crossed.

More designs here.





 

Korben Lirette made a deputation to The Finance and Administration Committee Meeting at Vaughan City Hall today. The purpose was to persuade Council to advance the approval of this initiative to the 2012 budget rather than 2014 as was originally proposed.

Here's a transcript of Korben's speech:

Good afternoon. My name is Korben Lirette and I live On Napa Valley Avenue in Woodbridge.

In my neighbourhood we have to skateboard and bmx in the street. Every day kids like me who have outgrown the playgrounds are waxing curbs in the parking lot and dodging traffic. Skateboarding and BMXing has become huge, and in Canada, there are more people that skateboard than participate in organized hockey. These sports are not a passing trend and USA Today reports that anywhere from 2-3 skateparks are built each week in the United States.

With the popularity of the X-Games and Dew Tour, the demand for skateparks has increased. Other Wards have been getting some really nice parks built and Brampton and Mississauga have a lot of community parks.

We need a safe place to spend our time in our neighbourhood.

In June of 2010, a group of students from Elder’s Mills Public School made a deputation to the city to construct a Multi-use Skatepark Facility at Napa Valley Park.

This fall we created a website and posted flyers to get support. We’ve had almost 300 people visit the site and 76 people have signed the petition.

Our community supports and needs this facility! Please approve the funding for the Skatepark at Napa Valley Park.

Thank you.

His words were met with great enthusiasm and were supported by the Councillors. In particular, Councillor Tony Carella, Coucillor Deb Schulte and Councillor Sandra Racco Yeung had some great input to the group, which was very much appreciated.

Cross your fingers. We'll keep you updated.



11" x 17"

8.5" x 11"
Please take the time to print out a flyer and recruit your fellow riders! Stick them in your school, your office or the nearest telephone pole. Don't be shy.


For more information about this initiative, please contact:
Paul Gardner, Director of Parks Development
Telephone: 905-303-2069 ext. 3209
Fax:  905-303-2068
Email: paul.gardner@vaughan.ca

Here's the document that outlines the need and proposal for the skatepark. Please have a read:


Our surrounding Wards have all been making great progress in getting parks built.
Please help us get one on Napa Valley, it only takes a few seconds to add your name to our list!!!



Hillside Skate Spot
Hillside's 'skate spot' presents a variety of obstacles layed out efficiently within a small area. Grind boxes, manny pads, banks, and ledges are features typically seen at much larger parks. There is even a 7 stair with a kinked hubba for those looking to push the limits a little bit. Hillside Park: 549 Vellore Park Ave.

Jack Pine Skate Spot
4,000 square foot Jack Pine employs a circular layout, perfect for flowing lines. The upper area includes a 6-stair rail/hubba combo. Much of the park is bordered by varying heights of quarter pipes and banks. Round this off with park staple manny pads/grind boxes and it makes for a great warm up spot or training facility. Jack Pine Park: 61 Petticoat Rd







Twelve Oaks Skate Spot
Twelve Oaks is 4200 square foot transition-oriented than the others. The bowl depth is approximately 5 feet (with 6 and 8 foot extensions) plus a 'pump bump' in the middle for speed. The spot has great potential for street lines as well, with a variety of ledges, some banks, and small stair sets. Twelve Oaks Park: 525 Via Romano Blvd.



Vellore Village SkatePark

This concrete street-style park consists of ledges, rails, banks, up-gaps, step boxes and a quarter pipe. 1 Villa Royale Avenue