City of Lethbridge decommissioning Dave Elton Skate Park

He says many of the park’s users were disappointed, but they understood.

Richter says the City has received several complaints about the park’s deteriorating condition and a general feeling that it is no longer safe.

Blair Richter on working with the skating community to reach this decision.

Counting devices had been installed earlier this year to see how many people were using the site, and according to Richter, those numbers were down significantly.

A news release from the City of Lethbridge states that, “the site has also become a hotspot for vandalism and non-recreational activity. That’s placed additional strain on City resources.”

The plan now is to return the site to its natural state.

“We’ll have to take out all the concrete and all the materials you see here today, backfill the site and make sure it’s compacted properly, reseed the site with grass, and then ultimately, fence off the site,” Richter explains.

Maintaining the park in its current state would cost between $10,000-$20,000 per year. The decommissioning process is estimated to cost over $200,000.

Eventually, the site will be used for an expansion of the BMX track that is located right next to it. The City says this will allow the BMX Club of Lethbridge to host larger events.

Skaters can still enjoy Lethbridge’s three other skate parks:

Wade Galloway Skate Park in the south
Watermark Skate Park in the west
Legacy Skate Park in the north

Richter says these locations are newer, safer and better fit the needs and desires of skateboarders.

The Dave Elton Skate Park in Lethbridge is being decommissioned. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

by David Opinko

City of Lethbridge decommissioning Dave Elton Skate Park

What's Happening