Airdrie’s new skate park has already been open for several months, but the City will make it official this weekend.
The grand opening of the park, located within the Chinook Winds Regional Park, will take place between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Aug. 28. It will feature live demonstrations, a live DJ, two silent auctions, product tosses and a formal ribbon cutting.
Shannon Howorko, president of the Airdrie Extreme Athletics Association, says she is excited the culmination of the park’s long development process is finally here.
“My involvement has only been for the last four years, but others have had this going well before that,” she said. “So it’s great to finally see it happen. It’s the end of a long road.”
“The community involvement that has gone into the development of the Airdrie Skate Park has been well over 10 years in the making,” said Michael McAllister, community developer with the City. “Those responsible for carrying this project throughout the years can now be very proud of the good work they contributed to.”
The park will host a number of vendors and product tosses from companies such as Sullys, Vans, Art School and Mission, as well as a live DJ and skate demonstrations. The two silent auctions will feature a return trip for two people on WestJet in the first one and a Sine trick bike in the second.
But the main focus of the day is to showcase the new park, which features 25,000 square feet of space for bikers, boarders and skaters. Two of the most prominent features are a large streetscape area and the snake bowl.
“Everybody seems to be really pleased with the structure and what it has to offer,” Howorko said. “There has been really positive feedback. It’s been a great reaction and the place is swamped.”
There are already preliminary plans to add a second phase, but there is no definitive timeline in place.
“There are still some goals that we have and lots we’d like to do and we’d like to see some competitions come our way,” said Howorko. “This weekend will hopefully get everybody out and get the exposure we need.”
