Developing an indoor skate park in Ponoka will keep kids busy during the winter months.
That’s what Ponoka youths who use Hamilton’s Skate Park regularly in the summer hope to get across to town planners. One thing is for sure, skaters and BMXers love the park. Indeed, they can be seen clearing the snow as soon as the weather turns warmer to get try out some new tricks.
BMX rider Jason Taylor first heard of the potential of an indoor park after reading of open house meetings looking at the future of the Ponoka Culture and Recreation Complex. Those meetings had ideas for an indoor skate/BMX park in designers’ conceptual drawings. Being big into BMX riding, Taylor suggests there is a potential recreation factor for youths.
Plus with skate parks being a staple in most communities, an indoor park could draw athletes and families to Ponoka. “It’s hard to do but I think it would benefit this town a lot.”
“I figure the town might want to look into something like that if they want to bring outsider people into town,” added Taylor.
A look at indoor skate/BMX parks in Alberta show a list of five, three of which allow BMX use. Those parks are: Incline in Sylvan Lake, Ride N Play in Edmonton and Genesis in Three Hills, although Genesis appears to be open seasonally. There are two other indoor parks but they do not allow bikes: Crowsnest Pass Indoor Skate park and West 49 in the West Edmonton Mall.
With so few indoor parks in the province, Taylor feels there is an opportunity to capitalize on a niche market with a quality indoor skate park. “I think that a key part to making it successful is to have it at a decently advanced level.”
Young BMX rider Ethan Sharp is big into hockey during the winter months but having a chance at some down time to work on BMX tricks between games and practice is something that he would enjoy . During the summer, Sharp makes a point to go to the skate park every day if possible. “It’s another sport for me to do and keep me busy when I don’t have hockey,” added Sharp.
He enjoys being able to learn at his own pace with BMX riding and says it keeps him active and away from video games.
Dawson Kroetsch agrees. “It would just be a different perspective on riding,” he said of the indoor park.
The kids are ready to get involved. They are willing to take part in bottle drives and other fundraising activities to help make their dream a reality. Curtis French said he is eager to see another fun winter activity. “It would be cool to bike in the winter.”
Taylor suggests there may be ways to earn some money at the park with a family restaurant and skate shop, which could be another draw for bikers and skaters.