Celebrating as new skatepark kick-flips into West Kelowna

• Has a better design for skateboarders of all levels
• Flexible space for recreation and cultural programming
• Old skatepark will be the home of City Hall and Westbank Library

The city of West Kelowna hosted a Skateboard Park Jam Saturday. It was to celebrate the new Skatepark which was completed late September last year.

It's located at 3737 Old Okanagan Highway.

Here's the story we ran on Kelowna10 when the new facility opened.

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Skateboarders can test their skills and hangout in a brand new skatepark at Memorial Park.

With large bowls and other more mellow features, all skill levels can enjoy the space while working on new tricks. The new park has a large focus on flow, where skaters can dial in some great lines.

At the ribbon cutting ceremony, Mayor Gord Milsom said they received input from the public and skateboard community who gave them direction on what to include. They’ve heard the new skatepark is a better facility than the old one.

“Skateboarding is really popular and now it’s an Olympic sport … it’s important for kids to get out, enjoy the fresh air and get exercise. It’s good for their well-being,” Milsom told Kelowna10.

The old skatepark, which was located just up the hill behind the Johnson Bentley Memorial Aquatic Centre, has been decommissioned to provide a new home for West Kelowna’s first City Hall and the Westbank Library Building.

“We own the land up where the new city hall and library is going to be and where the existing skatepark is," Milsom explained.

"If we didn’t build our first city hall in that location, we would have probably had to spend three or four million dollars to find land elsewhere”

The city said some benefits of the new skatepark design include flexible space to accommodate recreation and cultural programming or to serve as an overflow skate area when not in use by others. There will also be improved seating areas and a water bottle refilling station.

“It’s good for all aspects of your health. Your mental health, your spiritual health, but of course your physical health,” Westbank First Nation Councilor Jordan Coble said.

“With COVID, you have a little more appreciation for when we can get together and outdoor activities seem to be our place of safety, so it’s just a good opportunity to have some good, healthy, safe fun.”

Fifty-year-old skater Anthony Hancock happened to be travelling back to Chilliwack from Calgary when he stopped at the new skatepark for a quick session.

“This is probably one of the best bowls I’ve skated,” he said.