SKATEBOARD PARK
David Chapados of the Regina Skateboarding Coalition sits on a ramp at the Agribition Building where a temporary skateboard park is about to open.
A group of Regina skateboarders is getting ready to open an indoor park at Evraz Place this month.
The last time there was a centrally located skate park on the grounds was 2013, when the previous facility was cleared out and demolished to make way for the new Mosaic Stadium. Since then David Chapados and his fellow skateboarders have been trying to get a permanent location for a new indoor skate park.
Chapados has been building ramps and boxes in the old Agribition Building next to the Brandt Centre. REAL has agreed to lease the building to the Regina Skateboarding Coalition (RSC) until the end of April.
“Given the pandemic and recognizing we have the space to help them out, we have allotted them the Agribition building for now until spring,” said REAL in an emailed statement.
The search for a new park has been on since the old park closed. Money left over from that project went into buying lumber for the current park.
Chapados, vice-president of the RSC, said since then, the price of wood has doubled. Accordingly, the RSC is looking for grants and sponsors.
The RSC is a non-profit that advocates for skateboarding in the community, with an emphasis on inclusivity and access.
A local indoor skate park is operated by 306 Shop in north Regina. But Chapados says having the park central makes it more accessible, and with the growing scene more space is needed.
“306 has done a great job holding it down over the years, but it's not enough for how many skateboarders there are,” said Chapados.
Chapados has noticed an uptick in people getting back into skateboarding or trying it for the first time. “It kind of boomed with COVID,” he said.
One of the people who helped RSC get the ball rolling for a new facility was Jamie Garcia.
During the last municipal election, Garcia started to canvas councillors to see who was interested in building a new indoor park.
His 10-year-old daughter, Ellys, wanted to try skateboarding during the winter.
As someone who used to skate, and as someone who had heard the plans for a new park get kicked down the road, Garcia wanted to get involved.
“I felt like as a parent it was a good learning moment for us,” said Garcia.
His daughter, like many children, is having a tough time with the pandemic. So, Garcia wanted to try do something to raise her spirits and to help the skateboarding scene.
According to Garcia, Coun. Shanon Zachidniak (Ward 8), Coun. Jason Mancinelli (Ward 9) and Coun. Andrew Stevens (Ward 3) all reached out.
The councillors said the first step was sitting down with Tim Reid, president and CEO of REAL, to get a plan in place.
The first meeting with RSC and Garcia was different from what the group experienced in the past.
“I was surprised by how excited they were,” said Garcia. Plans were made and the RSC got to work.
For Alejabdra Cabrera, founder of Femmes Across the Board, finding a permanent indoor setting is important for the sport to grow.
“It's going to allow for people to skateboard all year round; it used to just be the summer months. I think it's going to be great,” Cabrera said.
“You can do a bunch of programming, you can work on your abilities.”
For a lot of skaters the season is so short that it's hard to improve, since there is so little time to work on your skills.
“It's hard to get better when you have to take such long breaks in between,” said Cabrera.
This park is not officially permanent, but RSC is looking for a long-term location.
Outdoor parks in the city are small and the 306 Shop skate park can be intimidating for newcomers. So a big, open setting for people to get the basics down is important, said Cabrera.
The 30,000-square-foot building allows ample space to practise skills and room for more ramps to be built.
The current build will happen in phases.
What's been built already will be able to be moved when or if a new location is locked down.
As someone going into his 26th year of skating, Chapados said the sport still has his heart, and he'll continue to fight for it.
“Even if I can't physically do it that well anymore, I'll still be pushing for other people to have the same opportunities I had.”