Mayor Linnsie Clark cuts the ribbon for the grand opening of Hillwood Skatepark along with members of the Medicine Hat Skateboard Association (Tiffany Goodwein/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

New skate park opens in Crescent Heights

May 28, 2022 | 8:06 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB—It was a great day to be a skateboarder on Saturday. The newest skatepark, located across the street from McCoy High School officially opened to the public, giving skaters another place to practice their tricks.

“I think it is super good because the main skate spot gets super crowded, and Crescent Heights is pretty far away from all that there are a lot of skaters from all over the city, and so they can’t always make it down there. So it is nice to have one right down by the school,” said skateboarder Joshua Jessop.

The Medicine Hat Skateboard Association first announced their intentions to build an integrated skateboard park in the north part of the city back in 2019 and have been working to build it ever since.

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A number of sponsors came together to make the build a reality including Capstone Concrete, the province of Alberta and the Kinsmen club of Medicine Hat.

“We have had a long relationship with the Medicine Hat Skateboard Association, since when we first donated money to the Kinsmen Skate plaza. When they came to us for this project, we were more that excited to participate as the students and kids that have participated have always been fantastic at raising money for all their major projects and we wanted to show support for both them and the fitness aspect of this activity.

The Hillwood Skatepark is the second integrated skate spot in Medicine Hat, next to the one installed at Saamis Rotary Park. Chris Nickel, vice-president of the Medicine Hat Skateboard Association said their goal is to implement more of them in the city, so that every neighborhood has a place to skate.

“Obviously we have the Kinsmen Skate Plaza down at Kin Coulee. It is a very central location. But not all skaters have access to it that readily,” Nickel said.

James Will director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Medicine Hat says the construction of the skatepark speaks to the evolution, and popularity of skateboarding in the city.

“I think Skateboarding has historically had a bad rap. This group behind us, they maintain the space they sweep it, they make sure it is clean. Same with down at Kin Coulee,” Will said.

“It really is a group that is a pleasure to work with, and they really care about youth,” Will added.