Skaters find safe haven at Market ‘til 10

By Kimberly Spice —

Skateboarder Zack Ferguson takes advantage of the North St. Lawrence Market’s free indoor skateboard park on Wednesday nights. Photo by Emma Feir.

Local skateboarders will soon be looking for their second new home in as many years when Toronto’s only free indoor skate park at the North St. Lawrence Market is set to close it doors on Wednesday nights.

The location has become an essential stop for Neighbourhood skaters like Sullivan, a 14-year-old Esplanade resident who has been skateboarding five years. He believes that if the facility was not available to him, “I would be on the street.”

The venue change will be second time the group is evicted from a safe location. Last year, the John Innes community centre was the skateboarders’ destination. That gym was in pretty poor condition, so the boarders—whose moves are notoriously tough on equipment—were permitted to move in and make it their home.

Unfortunately for the skaters but fortunately for John Innes, the Toronto Raptors Foundation sponsored major renovations that included a new hardwood lacquered floor, scoreboard and sports equipment. It was clear to the boarders that they would have to move on, so they did what boarders do: they hit the streets.

Everett Maclean, a skateboarder and placement student with the city parks department, recognized the need to keep skaters off the streets and played a key role in the launching the St. Lawrence skate park. He approached a number of facilities—hoping one would see the benefits to the kids—but had little success.

One day Maclean walked past the North Market. He took a look inside and saw an opportunity. He contacted the site’s administration and after a few meetings, Wednesday was reserved for the skateboarders.

“It was a win-win situation,” said Maclean. “It was a great way to cross-market.”

Now in its ninth week, the arrangement will continue until 2010 when the planned reconstruction of the North Market begins.

The St. Lawrence skate park is open every Wednesday from 6 to 10 p.m. Visit skatersinc.com.