City opens premiere waterfront skateboard park in the Beach

TORONTO , Oct. 3 /CNW/ - Today, Councillor Sandra Bussin (Ward 32 Beaches-East York) and Councillor Paula Fletcher (Ward 30 Toronto Danforth), Chair of the City's Parks and Environment Committee, joined skateboard enthusiasts, community members, representatives of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the Southeast Toronto Skateboard Association to officially open the Beach Skateboard Park. The new skateboard park is located on the northwest corner of Lake Shore Boulevard East and Coxwell Avenue.

"The youth from the Ashbridge's Bay and Beach community were instrumental in the skateboard park's development process," said Councillor Bussin. "Now, we have an important regional skate destination that is relevant to the needs of our youth and will draw skateboard enthusiasts from across the city to Toronto's waterfront."

The Beach Skateboard Park takes a progressive approach to skateboard park design. It is Toronto's first urban skate plaza, based on real-life street structures. The street-style skateboard park is approximately 6,500 square metres (70,000 square feet) and suitable for all levels and abilities. The park incorporates elements such as a floating manual dish, concrete recliner, kinked steep bank and Daewon Song style pad. The park also includes a high degree of architectural detailing, such as planting areas, among the skateboarding elements.

"The opening of the Beach Skateboard Park is an example of the City of Toronto's commitment to fun, local recreation opportunities for our park users," said Councillor Fletcher. "We want to encourage our young people to develop active lifestyles and the Beach Skateboard Park will be a fun and innovative way for children and youth to get outside and have a good time."

The City of Toronto's Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division has been working with the community on the conceptual design since 2005 and started in 2006 to develop the site for a skateboard park. The Beach Skateboard Park development was initiated by a local community group of skateboarders and their parents who formed the Southeast Toronto Skateboard Association (STSA) in 2002 to address the need of skateboarding facilities in the Beach/South Riverdale/East York area.

"It's the best in the province and one of the premiere skate plazas in the country. It's already well regarded by top skaters and fast becoming a destination park for skateboarders everywhere," said Steve Jarrett of the STSA and publisher of SBC Skateboard Magazine.

The STSA skateboarders worked on the Beach Skateboard Park design with internationally acclaimed skatepark designer Jim Barnum of Spectrum Skatepark Creations of Vancouver , B.C., and landscape architects Land Inc. of Toronto .

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America . Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. 2009 marks the 175th anniversary of Toronto's incorporation as a city. Toronto's government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents.

    
                     Visit our website at www.toronto.ca
    

For further information: Media contact: Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation media line, [phone], [email protected]