Strathcona County thanks Trans Mountain for their support in the development of the Ardrossan Skate Park.
The new Ardrossan Skate Park took on cues from some local influences when creating the concrete surfaces and features. The skate park is located at 45 Queen Street (Google Maps link) (the east side of the road, across the street from the Ardrossan Recreation Complex), Ardrossan
Agriculture is an important part of areas surrounding Sherwood Park and Ardrossan, and a few farming themes were used as inspiration when developing the skateable features. Rolls of hay bales commonly seen in the fields helped form the idea behind creating the circular pad that was reimagined as a skate feature. From an aerial view of the landscape, the areas surrounding Ardrossan show a patchwork of farming plots, and this helped create the unique coloured floor pattern that combines with the public artwork to form a visually interesting and colourful skatepark. Â
Over 20 youth from Strathcona County worked with lead artists Shelby Willis and Peter Gegolick to conceive of, design, and paint the dynamic imagery and bands of colour at the skate park. Themes drawn from the Ardrossan area were key to the youth which one can see in the artwork.Â
Shelby Willis is a local Strathcona County artist, who attributes a large portion of her passion for art to her creative family, and inspiration from her art teachers at Ardrossan Junior Senior High. Shelby's artwork focuses on colourful and soulful wildlife renditions, and one can find her very large public murals on Bond Street in Winnipeg, and at The Makers’ Keep in Kingsway Mall, Edmonton.Â
Peter Gegolick is a St. Albert-based artist and creates artwork that balances a fine line between sculptures and paintings. With influences from the snowboard and skateboard culture of his youth, Peter has developed a style that integrates a raw graffiti aesthetic with expansive colour-scapes and irregular material manipulation that takes inspiration from urban decay.Â
The new skate park will provide an additional gathering space for youth in the community to be active outdoors. It is approximately half the size of the existing skate park at Millennium Place.
Quarter pipe coping
Manual pad
Ledge
Rail Â
Various quarter pipes and ledge features
Manual pad, ledges and quarter pipe
Artists Peter Gegolick and Shelby Willis worked with youth to create mural designs for the Ardrossan Skatepark. View the concepts.
The new skatepark is approximately 7,500 sq ft.
The initial design phase of this project took place in early 2020. Construction is now complete and the park is ready to roll.
In December 2018, Council approved the funds to develop a skateboard park to be located in the green space adjacent to Memorial Hall. The Ardrossan community identified this youth amenity as a priority within the Ardrossan Community Recreation Master Plan 2012.
Recreation, Parks and Culture Phone: 780-467-2211 Email: recreation@strathcona.ca
Last updated: Tuesday, September 14, 2021 Page ID: 49940