(Image Credit: Curtis Goodrum / CFJC Today)

By Curtis Goodrum

WESTSYDE SKATEPARK

Westsyde to become ‘gnarly’ in pursuit of new skatepark

Jan 22, 2026 | 5:14 PM

KAMLOOPS – A Committee of the Whole meeting has given the Westsyde Community Development Society (WCDS) the chance to do a feasibility study at Westsyde Centennial Park for a new skatepark. The WCDS says it will handle the design, fundraising and building of a new skatepark in Westsyde if the city agrees to maintain the space.

“Our preliminary estimates for the total for the park itself is $630,000, and that includes construction and work that we need to do. That is our estimate. However, as time goes on, we know that with the economy, things keep going up,” said Elisa Houchen, the president of the WCDS.

The skatepark wouldn’t be the first project undertaken by the society, which already built a pump track at Centennial Park. If the skatepark is built according to plan, the city would just need to handle the upkeep. 

“Our group wants to build this asset but, because it’s on city property, it will be a city asset so after it’s built, any ongoing maintenance will be the city’s responsibility, just like all the other skateparks in town,” said Houchen.

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The new skatepark will be located close to the Diana Strank Arena and across from the pump track. The WCDS hopes this will give Westsyde teens something to do in their community.

“There aren’t very many youth — like think preteen to teenagers — so we have quite a few playgrounds, we have all the things for that younger age, but this specifically is really geared for our youth to give them a place that they can kind of call their own,” said Houchen.

The society aims to start construction in the next two years, but has to come back to the council ahead of the 2027 budget planning.