Redcliff youth thrilled to finally have a skatepark of their own

“We can skate freely and we don’t have to drive all the way to Medicine Hat so we kind of have a skatepark within walking distance,” said Mackenzie Prysiazny.

Another young skater agrees.

“Better than having to skate the stairs at Parkside School,” said Connor Schmaltz. “It’s great to officially have somewhere to skateboard at now.”

The new park, built by New Line Skateparks, cost about $450,000.

Manager of community outreach Everett Tetz says it will have a big impact on the community.

“I think the biggest benefit is accessible recreation,” Tetz said. “If this pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that kids need outdoor spaces to be together and a place to have fun and belong.”

The skatepark is still a work in progress. The next step is to landscape the area and eventually add in bathrooms and storage to the adjacent pool.

But for now, the Redcliff Youth Centre is making the park available for everyone to use.

“The Redcliff Youth Centre has a bunch of skateboards and scooters and safety equipment that we were able to purchase with the help of the Community Foundation of South Eastern Alberta,” Janae Ulrich, executive director of the said, said. “For kids in our community that may not have access to the equipment to utilize the park, we’ve got them covered.”

Ulrich says the park is in the perfect location and will help grow the community. It’s already been popular with the skaters.

“I’ve been using it every day,” Prysiazny said.

Many of the other skaters at the grand opening said they plan to use the new park every day.

by Teagan Rasche

Redcliff youth thrilled to finally have a skatepark of their own

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