Earl Bales Skatepark

A new skatepark is coming to Earl Bales Park. The City will be engaging the community to help determine the design.

  • Summer 2022: Hire a design consultant
  • Fall 2022 to Summer 2024: Design development
  • Fall 2022 to Spring 2024: Community engagement
  • Spring 2025: Construction starts
  • Fall 2025: Construction complete

The timeline is subject to change.

Level of Engagement

This project has been classified as a Collaborate project based on the International Association of Public Participation Spectrum. This means we aim to partner with the public, stakeholders, and rightsholders in each aspect of the design process, including the development of design options and the identification of a preferred design.

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In this phase of the community engagement process, the City and the design consultant worked with community members, including the Skatepark Champions, to define an overall vision for the skatepark, including a set of guiding principles to guide the development of design options in Community Engagement Phase 2.

Guiding Principles

Based on community feedback gathered in this phase and informed by the Toronto Skateboard Strategy, the guiding principles listed below were developed.

The Earl Bales Skatepark should have:

  • Good flow
  • Features for different skill levels; particularly those that support beginners such as smaller features, open flat space, ledges or curbs, etc.
  • Areas for different skill levels
  • Opportunities to progress from easier to more difficult features/obstacles
  • Supporting amenities for the skatepark, including seating, lighting and shade

November 2022

Download the combined summary report.

Virtual Skatepark Champions Meeting 1

On November 22, the project team met with the Skatepark Champions virtually.

Online Survey

From November 22 to December 11, the project team conducted a visioning survey which collected over 500 responses. The survey focused on the overall park typology and skate park features.

August 2022

Skatepark Champions

The project team recruited a team of champions to help guide the project and work with designers and the local community to develop the skatepark design. Champions are a team of skateboarders of all skill levels from beginner to advanced. As best as possible, the City aimed to form a team that is diverse and representative of the local community.

In this phase of the community engagement process, the City and its design consultant worked off the outcomes of Community Engagement Phase 1 to develop three design options for the new skatepark. These were presented to the community and Skatepark Champions for feedback and were used to develop a preferred design for the skatepark.

Design Options

Design A

Design Option A includes:

  • Mostly technical street features, with a few transition features.
  • A layout with characteristics and features beginners will appreciate, like:
    • open space
    • features to ride onto from flat, like curb cuts, mellow banks and quarter pipes
    • manual pad/out ledge feature
  • A small mini ramp.

A site image of design option A, pictured in context just south of the Earl Bales playground and dotted with numbers which correspond to features. Design option a has straight edges and is somewhat triangular in overall shape, with the narrowest area of the triangle pointing northeast, and one of the long sides of the triangle running parallel to the south edge of the playground. Moving counterclockwise on the image starting from the northern point, numbers indicate two areas of cluster seating with umbrellas and a bench seating area between them on that perimeter parallel to the playground. Numbers also indicate lighting and shade tree plantings distributed around the perimeter of the design. The area in the interior of the design near the centre is labelled as the technical street plaza section, and an area at the widest part of the triangle to the southwest is labeled the transition section. Having completed a counterclockwise circuit around the perimeter, the northeast point of the site design features another bench seating area. The entrance and exit to the skatepark curve from the northeast point towards the playground.

  1. Main entry
  2. Bench seating/gathering area
  3. Cluster seating with umbrella
  4. Lighting
  5. Shade tree planting
  6. Technical street plaza section
  7. Transition section
Around a centred image of design option A are example images and renders of the skate features in the northern half of this skatepark design. On the perimeters on the north half of this design, the following features are pictured: a two foot six inch diy style transition turn-around at the narrowest point of the triangle; two fourteen-inch flat ledges on the edge of the skatepark parallel to the playground; and a six inch manual pad with curb cut on the opposite, southeast perimeter of the park. In the interior of the design moving from the northeast corner towards the southwest are the following features: a fourteen inch flat rail; a manual pad/ out ledge.
Design option A for the north area of the park, with images labelled with numbers 1 through 5.
Around a centred site image of design option A are example images and renders of the skate features in the southern half of the skatepark. Starting from just south of the middle point of the design and moving counterclockwise the following features are pictured in the interior: bank to curb; three foot mini ramp; two foot three inch bank hip. Moving counterclockwise around the southern perimeter of the design, the following features are pictured: three foot transition hip; three foot bank turn-around; step-up manual pad.
Design option A for the south area of the park, with images labelled with numbers 6 through 11.
  1. Two-foot six-inch ‘DIY’ style transition turn-around
  2. 14-inch flat ledge
  3. 14-inch flat rail
  4. Manual pad/out ledge
  5. Six-inch manual pad with curb cut
  6. Bank to curb
  7. Step-up manual pad
  8. Three-foot transition hip
  9. Three-foot mini ramp
  10. Two-foot three-inch bank hip
  11. Three-foot bank turn-around

Design Option B

Design Option B includes:

  • A balance of flowing street features and technical street features.
  • A layout with characteristics and features beginners will appreciate, like:
    • open space
    • features to ride onto from flat, like curb cuts, mellow banks and quarter pipes
    • a technical street island feature
  • An overall more curved design when compared to Design Option A and C

A site image of design option b, pictured in context just south of the Earl Bales playground and dotted with numbers which correspond to features. Design option b is shaped somewhat like a lumpy egg, tilted, with a narrower rounded end towards the northeast and the wider end towards the southwest. Numbers indicate lighting and shade tree plantings distributed around the perimeter of the design. Moving counterclockwise on the image, the edge closer to the playground features two areas of cluster seating with umbrellas and one area of bench seating as the design curves south. In the interior of the design, the northwest section of the skatepark is indicated to be the technical street plaza section, while an area to the south within the design is indicated to be the flowing street section. Having completed a circuit around the perimeter, there is another bench seating area on the north east side of the design. The entrance to the skatepark curves from the north point of the design towards the playground.

  1. Main entry
  2. Bench seating/gathering area
  3. Cluster seating with umbrella
  4. Lighting
  5. Shade tree planting
  6. Technical street plaza section
  7. Flowing street section
Around a centred site image of design option b are example images and renders of the skate features in the northern half of this skatepark design. On the perimeter of the design at the north end is a three-foot transition turn-around / hip, and on the northwest perimeter is a six inch curved curb. Between this curb and the centre of the design is a fourteen-inch flat rail. In the north centre of the design is a technical island made up of the following features: a six inch manual pad; a fourteen inch out ledge, a step-up manual pad; and a twelve inch flat ledge.
Design option B for the north area of the park, with images labelled with numbers 1 through 7.
Around a centred site image of design option b are example images and renders of the skate features in the southern half of the skatepark. Starting in the centre of the image to the southwest of the technical island is a four-stair set with hubba ledge and down rail. Moving counterclockwise around the wide southwest perimeter of the design are the following features: a pole jam; a small two-foot transition turn-around; an up-gap; and a two foot six inch bank hip.
Design option B for the south area of the park, with images labelled with numbers 8 through 12.
  1. Three-foot transition turn-around/hip
  2. Six-inch curved curb
  3. 14-inch flat rail
  4. Six-inch manual pad
  5. 14-inch out ledge
  6. Step-up manual pad
  7. 12-inch flat ledge
  8. Two-foot six-inch bank hip
  9. Pole jam
  10. Four stair set with hubba ledge and down rail
  11. Up-gap
  12. Small two-foot transition turn-around

Design Option C

Design Option C includes:

  • A balance of flowing street features and technical street features.
  • A layout with characteristics and features beginners will appreciate, like:
    • open space
    • features to ride onto from flat, like mellow banks and quarter pipes
    • a slappy bank with an inset manual pad feature
  • A V-shaped design that provides a separation between the technical street lane (closer to the playground) and the flowing street lane (farther from the playground).

A site image of design option c, pictured in context just south of the Earl Bales playground and dotted with numbers which correspond to features. Design option c is shaped somewhat like an upside-down letter V, with the narrow end pointing northeast, one arm of the V running parallel to the south edge of the playground and pointing southwest, and the other diverting and pointing south. Numbers indicate lighting and shade tree plantings distributed around the perimeter of the design. Moving counterclockwise on the image, the edge closer to the playground features two areas of cluster seating with umbrellas and one area of bench seating. In the interior of the design, the area on the northern side of the split of the V is indicated to be the technical street plaza section, while the southern area in the south arm of the V is labeled as the flowing street section. Having completed a counterclockwise circuit around the perimeter, there is another bench seating area on the northeast perimeter of the design. The entrance and exit to the skatepark curve from the north point of the design towards the playground.

  1. Main entry
  2. Bench seating/gathering area
  3. Cluster seating with umbrella
  4. Lighting
  5. Shade tree planting
  6. Technical street plaza section
  7. Flowing street section
Around a centred site image of design option c are example images and renders of the skate features in the arm of the v that runs parallel to the southern edge of the playground. At the blunt, northeast point of the v is a three-foot bank turn-around/ hip. Moving east through the design is a six-inch slappy curb on the perimeter; in the interior of the design is a fourteen-inch flat rail; a fourteen inch flat ledge; and a slappy bank with inset manual pad. At the southeast end of the arm of the v is a three-foot transition turnaround on the perimeter of the design.
Design option C for the north area of the park, with images labelled with numbers 1 through 6.
Around a centred site image of design option c are example images and renders of the skate features in the arm of the v that runs towards the south. Near the split of the v is an a-frame with rooftop rail and a table top with ledge at the perimeter of the design. Moving south into the arm of the v is a five stair set with down rail next to a hubba/ out ledge and slappy out rail. At the southernmost point of design c is a small one foot six-inch transition turn-around at the perimeter.
Design option C for the south area of the park, with images labelled with numbers 7 through 12.
  1. Three-foot bank turn-around/hip
  2. 14-inch flat rail
  3. Six-inch slappy curb
  4. 14-inch flat ledge
  5. Slappy bank with inset manual pad
  6. Three-foot transition turn-around
  7. A-frame with rooftop rail
  8. Table top with ledge
  9. Five stair set with down rail
  10. Hubba/out ledge
  11. Slappy out rail
  12. Small one-foot six-inch transition turn-around

Community Engagement Meetings and Events

Download the Phase 2 engagement summary.

February 2024

Online Survey

From February 12 to February 25, an online survey collected feedback from 199 community members.

Virtual Public Meeting

On February 12, the project team hosted a virtual public meeting to present and answer questions on the three design options for the new skatepark. Nineteen people attended, including seven Skatepark Champions.

January 2024

Virtual Skatepark Champions Meeting 2

On January 23, the project team met with the Skatepark Champions virtually.

March 2023

Project Timeline Update

Following the project visioning phase, design development was put on pause for a few months due to delays associated with the on-site archaeological and geotechnical assessments, which will impact how the skatepark is designed.

In this phase of the community engagement process, the City shared the preferred design with the community and Skatepark Champions. When the preferred design is confirmed, the project will move into the detailed design phase, where the design team will finalize the design by working through the technical details and drawings for the construction contractor.

The community engagement activities in this phase were a Skatepark Champions meeting and pop-up events.

The outcome of this phase is a refined preferred design.

Preferred Design

The preferred design includes:

  • A balance of flowing street features and technical street features
  • A layout with characteristics and features beginners will appreciate, like:
    • Open space
    • Features to ride onto from flat, like mellow banks and quarter pipes
    • A slappy bank with an inset manual pad feature
  • A V-shaped design that provides a separation between the technical street lane (closer to the playground) and the flowing street lane (farther from the playground)

A site image of the preferred design, pictured in context just south of the Earl Bales playground and dotted with numbers which correspond to features. The design is shaped somewhat like an upside-down letter V, with the narrow end pointing northeast, one arm of the V running parallel to the south edge of the playground and pointing southwest, and the other diverting and pointing south. Light, seating, and shade tree plantings are distributed around the perimeter of the design. Moving counterclockwise on the image, the edge closer to the playground features two areas of cluster seating with umbrellas and one area of bench seating. There is another bench seating area on the northeast perimeter of the design. The entrance and exit to the skatepark curve from the north point of the design towards the playground. At the northern point of the design near the skatepark entrance, the point of the v shape features a 1.5 foot bank turn-around and a three foot bank turn-around/ hip. Moving southeast down the arm of the v closer to the playground, there is a 14-inch flat rail in the interior of the design, and a 6-inch slappy curb to the right on the edge of the park design. Continuing to move southwest is a 14-inch flat ledge in the interior of the design and a 4-foot slappy bank with inset 6-inch manual pad to the left. At the end of the arm of the v is a 1.5-foot transition turn-around and 3-foot transition turn-around. Starting again at the northeast point of the v and moving south through the other arm of the design, there is a 1.5-foot table top and 2-foot a-frame with rooftop rail and ledge. Continuing into the arm past the split is a 5 stair set with down rail, hubba / out ledge, and slappy out rail. At the end of the arm is a 2-foot transition turn-around.

  1. 1.5-foot bank turn-around
  2. Three-foot bank turn-around/hip
  3. Six-inch slappy curb
  4. 14-inch flat rail
  5. 14-inch flat ledge
  6. Four-foot slappy bank with inset six-inch manual pad
  7. 1.5-foot transition turn-around
  8. Three-foot transition turn-around
  9. 1.5-foot table top
  10. Two-foot a-frame with rooftop rail and ledge
  11. Five stair set with down rail
  12. Hubba / out ledge
  13. Slappy out rail
  14. Two-foot transition turn-around

A render illustration looking over the skatepark from above, as if taken from a drone hovering over the playground. In the foreground are the two areas of cluster seating with umbrellas and one area of bench seating. There is another bench seating area on the northeast perimeter of the design. There are human figures pictured throughout the design to show the rough scale of the skatepark and the size and elevation of the features.

Community Engagement Meetings and Events

May 2024

Pop-Up Event

On May 15, the project team hosted a pop-up event at Earl Bales Community Centre from 3 to 5 p.m. and at Stanley Greene Skatepark from 6 to 8 p.m. to share information about the preferred design and collect community feedback.

April 2024

Virtual Skatepark Champions Meeting 3

On April 24, the project team met with the Skatepark Champions virtually.

Earl Bales Park is located at 4169 Bathurst St., south of Sheppard Avenue. It is a large 51-hectare destination park in Ward 6 – York Centre with a community centre, extensive park grounds and many recreational amenities.

As part of Toronto’s 20-year Facilities Master Plan and informed by the Skateboard Strategy, City staff reviewed existing skate facilities across the city to identify areas where new or improved facilities are needed to improve access to the activity city-wide.

Through this process, York Centre was identified as an area that lacked skateboarding facilities. Based on a number of criteria, Earl Bales Park has been selected as the best location to create a new skatepark for the local community. This criteria includes:

  • Geographic location
  • Site characteristics including adequate space, suitable topography, etc.
  • Available supporting amenities including washrooms, parking lots, transit access
  • Demographics of the area, including children and youth population size
  • Safety considerations (i.e. clear sightlines and proximity to other amenities that will encourage “eyes on the skatepark”)

The skatepark design will be developed in consultation with the community. Budget, site limitations and operational requirements will also be considered throughout the design process.