Skateboarders pipe up over ramp rules

City inspectors say two projects built by volunteers are unauthorized and violate 1 bylaws

- MAHDIS HABIBINIA

Nicky Young won’t give up the two concrete skate ramps that he and community members built in a popular skateboard park without a fight, even though the city has warned it will remove them.

“We will lock ourselves to the ramp, if we find out when (demolition) is happening,” said Young, a 32-year-old skater and community organizer.

City inspectors have deemed two do-it-yourself ramps made of concrete — one finished, another still in the works — in Christie Pits park as illegal because it violates 11 bylaws and was not authorized by the city, according to city spokesperson Nitish Bissonauth.

Local skaters took matters into their own hands last year after they said the city was slow to respond in replacing decrepit, noisy ramps made of wood.

The wooden ramps splinter, rot and pop screws, according to Young, and they are also prone to collecting condensation or dew because of the non-porous sheeting which makes them slippery and hazardous.

“The community group ... has been advised that they are not permitted to build or store construction materials in the park,” Bissonauth said, noting other wooden ramps that have passed inspection will remain, but the new concrete ramps will be removed to “mitigate risk of injury” since it would leave the city liable to a lawsuit.