Local skateboarders are thrilled about a massive new indoor skate park that will be part of the entertainment and recreation facilities inside Regina’s REAL District.
Heritage Skate Park is Regina’s newest indoor skating space located in the Canada Centre in Regina’s REAL (Regina Exhibition Association Ltd.) District. A 15,000 square foot section of the building is dedicated to this skate park, which is open for use while still being upgraded.
“We haven’t had any indoor space to ourselves with this size for a long time and it’s a good way to get the community together,” said Taylor Mabbott, a member of the Regina Skateboarding Coalition.
“It’s a good opportunity to come here and learn how to skateboard for young kids wanting to skate or anyone for that matter.”
The Regina Skateboarding Coalition, founded in 2019, is a non-profit association supporting skateboarding initiatives.
“We have basketball courts, there’s volleyball there’s pickleball so the whole space would be a big recreation hub,” said David Chapados, Regina Skateboarding Coalition’s vice-president.
The Skateboarding Coalition previously ran an indoor skatepark on REAL grounds. The park was demolished in 2013 to make way for Mosaic Stadium.
“There was always a plan for a replacement park it just took a while to get everything in place and find a suitable spot,” said Chapados.
“I think they’ll provide us with the space once they see how successful this is going to be but currently our lease is for two years in this space.”
The fund for the new park comes from different sponsors, led by Vans, the city and REAL.
Admission for ages 18 and older is 10 dollars per person while admission for ages 17 and under is five dollars per person.
All additional funds from sponsorships and admissions will go toward upgrading the skate park with more skating ramps.
“We’re super excited to have the park,” said Chapados.
“The city’s been a great partner, super grateful for giving us this opportunity and REAL for providing the space as well.”
Heritage skate park is open weekdays from 6 pm to 10 pm. On Saturdays the park is open from 1 pm to 5 pm and 6 pm to 9 pm.
On Sunday afternoons from 1 pm to 5 pm the park is reserved for Femmes Across the Board, a skateboarding group for 2S+LGBTQIA, BIPOC, non-binary and those who identify as female, as well as all females that are interested in using the park at this reserved time slot. On Sunday evenings from 6 pm to 9 pm the park is open to all individuals.
Chapados and Mabbott see the year-round skate park as an opportunity to build and maintain Regina’s skateboarding community.
“It is great for everyone’s physical and mental health,” said Mabbott. “The whole group of us that are putting this together watch everybody come in every day and enjoy themselves.
“It’s really so cool.”
According to Chapados the skate park has received positive feedback from the community so far. David believes the attendance over the first week has been exceptional.
“Time to knock the rust off! I can’t wait for this,” said AJ Braun, a long-time skateboarder.
There is excitement about the new skate park on Skateboarding Coalition’s Instagram and Facebook pages as well.
“I’ll be making a trip back to Sask to skate here,” said Kyle Ferguson, a long-time skateboarder, on Facebook.
Heritage Skate Park’s grand opening is scheduled for March 19.
“On the grand opening we’ll have an opening ceremony with an elder and then we’ll also have the mayor speaking and Tim Reid from REAL as well,” said Chapados.
“We’ll have a little skate demo after and then a free skate for all the kids or whoever attends opening ceremony.”
The skate park’s entrance is at the north side of Canada Centre Building. The video below posted on Skateboarding Coalition’s social media demonstrates the easiest way to get to the park’s location.
