Skaters in Hespeler are coming up with their own solution to the lack of skateparks in their area.
Down a small path on Sheffield Drive and into a large opening, sits a concrete pad that used to be an old factory.
Here is where local skaters have turned abandoned wood and metal scraps into a DIY skatepark.
“We started building this park in our spare time so the kids could have a place to skate,” said Mark Ready, one of the founders of ‘Hespeler Needs a Skate Park’. “There just isn’t any other options.”
Skaters have brought in their own makeshift rails and ramps to grind and skate over. The only issue is, because of the location, their structures don’t last long.
The DIY park on Sheffield is technically on private property, so the park shouldn’t even exist, explained Ready.
“You never know what’s going to be here. One day someone could come in with a backhoe and tear everything down,” he said.
Hespeler Needs a Skate Park has partnered with Notion Skate Co. a local skate company, to promote the idea of a park being built in Hespeler Village.
The company has been promoting the construction of a new park for a few months and so far the community engagement has been off the charts.
“We met at the last ‘Go Skate Day’ and we got a lot of positive feedback,” said James Blain, co-founder of Notion Skate Co.
Together they have been building and cleaning up the DIY park over the last few months and are ready to move on to a more permanent setting.
Ready and his team have been in contact with the City of Cambridge and are looking to be apart of the master plan in 2023 where the city will decide where to allocate funds for the community.
“A Parks Master Plan is in the initial stage of development and will review the community needs in terms of overall parks and amenities,” said the City of Cambridge in an email to CambridgeToday.
City councillor for Ward 2 Mike Devine has been a voice at the city for the new park that is “long overdue.”
“The city, GRCA and city real estate have all been involved and now we are desperately searching for a location that works for everyone and doesn’t upset residents,” said Devine.
These projects can be cumbersome while trying to get the city to approve them. There are a lot of moving parts Devine noted.
He and local groups are doing all they can for the kids of Hespeler, said Devine. “This has been overlooked for far too long, we have no skateparks on this side of the 401.”
“These kids really don’t have anywhere to go and skate,” said Blain. “We can build a temporary one here, but a concrete park doesn’t get stolen or broken. We really need one.”
There will be future meetings that will allow the public to join and voice their concerns and opinions on the park. Ready is asking the community to show up and show their support for their cause.
“We really need everyone to come out and support this, that is the only way it’ll get built. It’s not only for skaters now, but future generations.”
In the meantime, Ready and Notion Skate Co. will continue skating at the DIY park and ask if other skaters want to go there to be respectful and not damage any property.
