After 20 years, Whitehorse skateboarders ready for new park

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

TheSecond Havenskate parkhas beena youth hangout for 20 years,hostingmany Canada Day skate rallies, BBQs, andfundraisers. It was built in 1995 the year of the first X-Games.

Talen Dolan has been skateboardingfor three years.He says he visits thegraffiti-taggedparkevery dayafter school.

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

Dolan likesthe 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, anddoesn't seemworriedabout the park moving.

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

Dolan saysShipyards Park, locatedcloser to the library and theKwanlin Dun Cultural Centre,would be a good replacement location. Dolan's friend, Evyn Dinn, says the park should be close to schools, soyoung people can practice skateboard tricks during theirlunch break.

Francophone high school planned for location

Second Haven occupies some of Whitehorse's most coveted real-estate situatedbesidethe Yukon River, steps fromWhitehorse's MillenniumTrail, close to the hospitaland across from theS.S. KlondikeNational Historic Site of Canada.

The discussiontobuild a new Francophonehigh school comes after construction has already begun on F-H Collins Secondary,anEnglish-language high school near thepark.

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

They received a letter fromScott Kent,then Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, whichsaid the skatepark could "remain in the same location" and that renovations could"occur within its existing footprint."