Portable skate ramps roll into Jeffries Park for limited fall pilot

There’s still time to get a few more runs in before the season wraps up.

Beginning Thursday, October 1, portable skate ramps will roll into Jeffries Park for a limited-time pilot, giving skaters another place to ride, practice and try something new this fall.

The ramps will be available daily until 8 p.m. from October 1 to 12, before being removed on October 13.

Whether you’re an experienced skater ready to test your skills or simply curious about the new setup, we invite you to stop by, check out the ramps and tell us what you think.

Come out for our community skate event

The kickoff for the pilot will be a community skate event on Saturday, October 3, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., hosted in partnership with the Medicine Hat Skateboard Association.

Come by to:

• Try out the portable ramps
• Take part in a Best Trick Competition
• Enter for a chance to win prizes
• Enjoy complimentary snacks and drinks with other participants

It’s a great opportunity to spend an afternoon outside, meet other members of the local skate community and put the ramps through their paces.

Help us learn from the pilot

This short-term installation is also an opportunity for us to learn.

Parks and Recreation staff will be at Jeffries Park throughout the opening days of the pilot to connect with users, answer questions and hear about their experiences. Staff will continue to visit the site at different times throughout the pilot.

Skaters and other ramp users will also be able to scan QR codes onsite to complete a short survey. Feedback collected during the pilot will help us understand how the ramps are being used and how portable skate amenities could support recreation opportunities throughout our community.

We’ll also be conducting sound monitoring at different times, including baseline readings and readings during periods of peak use, to better understand the pilot's impact on the surrounding area.

For the duration of the pilot, a portable washroom will also be available on site.

Nearby residents can have their say, too. Residents living closest to Jeffries Park received information about the pilot before the ramps arrived, including contact information for questions or concerns.

Following the pilot, a separate resident survey will open October 14 and remain available for seven days, giving nearby residents another opportunity to tell us about their experience.

Mark your calendar

• October 1: Portable ramps arrive at Jeffries Park
• October 1 to 12: Ramps available for use
• October 3, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.: Community skate event
• October 12: Final day to use the ramps
• October 13: Ramps removed
• October 14: Resident survey opens

The fun will be over before we know it, so grab your board, scooter or wheels and make the most of this late-season opportunity.

Come give the ramps a try, share your feedback and help us make future decisions about the best spots for these amenities next summer.