After 20 years, Whitehorse skateboarders ready for new park

Whitehorse's skateboard park is set to be replaced in order to accommodate a new francophone high school in the capital, and many skaters say that's just fine.   

The Second Haven skate park has been a youth hangout for 20 years, hosting many Canada Day skate rallies, BBQs, and fundraisers. It was built in 1995 — the year of the first X-Games.

Talen Dolan has been skateboarding for three years. He says he visits the graffiti-tagged park every day after school.

"It's the fun of the sport, I love it," he says. "I try to skate everyday, try to progress." 

Dolan likes the idea of moving. He says the park is "pretty rough" and would prefer a park with a smoother surface.

Skaters hope for a smoother future

Braden Dolan often visits the park on his bike, and doesn't seem worried about the park moving.

"Depends if (the new one) is better or not, because we're pretty limited with this skatepark," he says. "They built it with asphalt, which is not too great to fall on. There's smoother stuff that's a lot better. It's not an all-around great park at all." 

​Dolan says Shipyards Park, located closer to the library and the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre, would be a good replacement location. Dolan's friend, Evyn Dinn, says the park should be close to schools, so young people can practice skateboard tricks during their lunch break. 

Francophone high school planned for location

Second Haven occupies some of Whitehorse's most coveted real-estate — situated beside the Yukon River, steps from Whitehorse's Millennium Trail, close to the hospital and across from the S.S. Klondike National Historic Site of Canada. 

The discussion to build a new Francophone high school comes after construction has already begun on F-H Collins Secondary, an English-language high school near the park.

Moving the skate park represents a change of heart from the territorial government. In October, Whitehorse's Skate for Life Alliance had asked about Second Haven's future.

They received a letter from Scott Kent, then Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, which said the skate park could "remain in the same location" and that renovations could "occur within its existing footprint."