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Town considers building new skateboard parks

July 30, 2026   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

New Tecumseth municipal council received a report from the Recreation, Facilities, and Culture Department during its July 13 meeting regarding the feasibility and potential timeline of developing new skateboard parks.

The report cites the Open Spaces Master Plan and recommends demolishing the bike and skateboard parks in Alliston and Tottenham and rebuilding them in the same communities.

The All Wheels Skate Park project fund has a remaining balance of $38,043 following last year’s pump track purchase.

The All Wheels Skate Park concept has been under consideration since 2019, when the Nottawasaga OPP developed the All-Wheels Park Strategy in consultation with local youth, New Line Skateparks Inc., and New Tecumseth staff.

The strategy identified Riverdale Park in Alliston as the proposed location, with an estimated project cost of $928,000, including a five per cent contingency. In 2020, council allocated $169,000 toward the project, with the expectation that additional funding would be secured through community contributions and support from external partners.

To date, no contributions have been received from outside sources.

The estimated cost for a new, modern bike and skateboard park is between $940,000 and $1.1 million.

On May 12, 2025, council approved a motion for the acquisition of a mobile pump track. As part of that decision, staff was directed to draw from the previously reserved skate park funds and report back on the feasibility of developing a permanent All Wheels-style facility.

There are currently five skateboard and bike parks (excluding New Tecumseth) within about 20 kms of Alliston, Tottenham, and Beeton. These parks are located in Angus, Schomberg, Nobleton, Bolton, and Bradford West Gwillimbury and provide alternative access.

A study indicates that when youth choose physical activity, it is typically for enjoyment and fitness, for example hiking or biking, rather than competition. Skateboarding and bike parks remain popular as they provide social, self-directed, and non-competitive physical activity suitable for a range of ages.

The town currently provides one bike and skateboard park in each Alliston, Beeton, and Tottenham.

Alliston and Tottenham feature parks with large concrete pads and at least three elements for tricks.

Beeton has a single pad with a single metal half-pipe.

At the time the master plan was prepared, the town’s youth population was around 4,920. It is expected to grow to 7,483 by 2040.

The town’s existing skateparks are aging and have experienced recurring vandalism. Both the Alliston and Tottenham parks are in poor condition and do not get a lot of use, likely for that reason.

The Beeton park is underused and offers limited play value.

The report recommends decommissioning both the Alliston and Tottenham parks and reviewing the locations. The report states that the Beeton park be considered for new equipment and create a new space more inclusive to teenage girls.

Several locations for new parks are being considered. 

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