Skateboard restrictions could loosen

City officials are going to look at loosening up rules restricting when and where youth in Calgary are allowed to use their stakeboards.

Ald. Joe Connelly persuaded his colleagues Monday to instruct city officials to develop a new skateboard park strategy.

The mayoral candidate's motion also calls for a review of Calgary's 24-year-old bylaws prohibiting back-yard ramps based on noise concerns are unfair.

"A skate ramp in a yard runs about 40 to 62 decibels, a skate ramp in a neighbour's next door runs about 40 to 50, a lawnmower, for your information, is 55 to 65, and dogs barking is 65 decibels," Connelly said.

"So how can we allow trampolines, your worship, and not allow skateparks?"

Connelly's motion calls for city administrators to report back to council by January, 2011.

The city currently has only one permanent skateboard park — Shaw Millennium Park between Bow Trail and 9th Avenue downtown. It is the largest facility of its kind in North America.

But the city's parks and recreation department also brings mobile skateboarding equipment to communities throughout Calgary during the summer.

Connelly said he was happy his proposal won so much support, especially since Monday is international Go Skateboarding Day.