This week, members of the skateboarding community mourn, as the oldest skate park – the Dave Elton Skate Park – is being retired by the City of Lethbridge.
“Dave Elton is one of four skate parks in the city. It served the community for many years, but now the time has come to say goodbye to this piece of our park’s history,” says General Manager of Parks and Cemeteries Blair Richter.
According to the City, this decision follows a thorough review of the site’s condition, usage patterns and future potential for community development.
“As we look ahead, it’s clear the site no longer meets the needs of our residents in terms of safety, accessibility or long-term sustainability,” adds Richter.
The skate park’s aging infrastructure has become increasingly difficult to maintain, and significant deterioration of equipment has raised safety concerns.
Usage data collected since 2023 shows the park is underutilized, with most activity occurring late at night. Unfortunately, the site has also become a hotspot for vandalism and non-recreational activity.
“We put in counting devices over the last couple of years to monitor when people were coming and how many were coming. And we’re just not seeing very many numbers,” says Richter.
Richter notes the City is shifting its focus to spaces that better meet the needs of the community. “It’s all part of building a healthier, more vibrant future for Lethbridge.”
The land currently occupied by Dave Elton Skate Park is earmarked for the expansion of the BMX track.
This project, led and funded by the BMX Club of Lethbridge, will enable the city to host larger events, including potential national-level competitions.
“We understand this closure may be disappointing for some, but we have three other fantastic skate parks located throughout the city. The process will take place right away and will take approximately one month to complete,” notes Richter. “The intent is to revert the site to a natural state and planning for future use at a later date.”
Richter explains the work will entail taking out the concrete and the materials, backfilling the site and making sure it’s compacted properly and re-seeding the site with grass. “And ultimately fence off the site.”
The estimated cost for the skate park’s retirement is over $200,000. “Fortunately, we have lifecycle budgets in place to handle these types of projects,” says Richter.
According to Richter, when the decision was made in June, the City informed the skateboarding community, so they knew what to expect with the site. “There was obvious disappointment. But I think the important thing to remember is we’ve actually built three new skate parks in the last 11 years, based on engagement with those skateboarding people. They came to us several years ago with complaints about this park in particular – feeling it was unsafe, and the overall design was not meeting their needs.”
“We worked with them over the last 10 years and built three great skate parks throughout the city,” Richter adds.
The three other skate parks in the city are Wade Galloway Skate Park in the south, Watermark Skate Park in the west and Legacy Skate Park in the north.
The City notes these parks offer modern equipment and inclusive environments for skaters of all ages and skill levels.
(Photo by Stan Ashbee)
(Photo by Stan Ashbee)
