John Rhodes Community Skatepark

On these steps a new beginning for skateboarding was sparked. That was 1994, when Sault skaters realized that if they were going to build for the future it would have to be together. Passion alone for their individualistic sport couldn’t bend political will, nor push past bureaucratic barriers. Change would be had as a collective or not at all…then they all moved away.

As the years passed, a new generation of home-grow skaters emerged who witnessed countless skateparks erected in smaller more remote towns, while their much larger town still had none. It begged the question: when is our time? When do we build?  After much conversation and frustration with lack of action, the Superior Community Skatepark Association (SCSA) was formed in 2003. This non-profit community group focused on meeting the needs of Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma area skateboarders. Their mandate is to work with public and private interests in building a strong and vibrant community.

SCSA was instrumental in developing a temporary wooden skatepark as a holdover facility in which to host fundraiser efforts, youth programs, competitions, and various outdoor events. Phase One of a development plan broke ground with the support of friends, families, grandmas and grandpas, as well a sizable grant from the Trillium Foundation.

Phase One has become a case study in “if you build it, they will come”. Participants can now be seen using the park from as early as mid-March to late as December. It has surpassed expectations as a facility for youth to congregate and express their talent, and has grown into a safe place where parents can introduce their children to a sport where infinite creativity leads to endless possibilities.