Today the Town of Newmarket officially opened its outdoor skatepark in the community for riders of all ages and skill sets. Located outside the Magna Centre (800 Mulock Drive), Members of Council gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony as eager skateboarders and scooter-ists took their first run in the park.

"On behalf of Council, we are delighted that the outdoor skatepark in Newmarket is now officially open to residents of all ages and skill levels to enjoy," says Mayor John Taylor. "During the pandemic, we recognized even more, how important it was to have a variety of outdoor spaces for recreational activities for our mental health and well-being. With this park now complete, skateboarders and scooter-ists will be able to use this space to develop and refine their skills while fostering a positive community spirit."

An outdoor skatepark that would service all ages was identified as a need within the Recreation Playbook. As a result, public consultation for the outdoor skatepark began in 2020 with the launch of a design survey, that saw over 400+ respondents participate to give their feedback on what they wanted to see within the park. This was followed by the release of three concept designs that were presented to the public through a Public Information Centre and a two-week voting period. A final design was selected and construction on the skatepark began in June 2021.

The Outdoor Skatepark includes a variety of skate features to accommodate junior to advanced riders and provide learning opportunities to all users and age groups. Some main features include:

• A junior area with a small quarter pipe, manual pad, flatbar and a bank to curb
• A central sculptural turn-around quarter pipe
• Five set with hubba and rail
• Wedge to wedge gap/table top
• Asymmetrical quarter pipe hip
• Slappy bank to curb
• Mellow down rail, out ledge, out rail and manual pad
• Eight set with rail and bank
• Small quarter pipe
• Multi-depth flow bowl with extension and pump roller

In addition to the skatepark features, amenities include gathering areas, shade sails, picnic tables, benches, landscaping features, bike racks, and a water bottle fill station.

The skatepark is open from dawn till dusk and all users should follow the rules posted at the facility. The skatepark is unsupervised by the Town and adult supervision is recommended for younger riders.

For more information on the skatepark and public engagement process, please visit heynewmarket.ca/skatepark.