Calgary’s skateboarding community frustrated over Cowboys Skatepark access

Skateboarders who usually do their ollies or board slides at Cowboys Park in downtown Calgary aren’t happy as sections of the skatepark have become inaccessible to allow for construction making way for the upcoming Cowboys Music Festival.

“There’s nowhere else for me to go because they’ve skate-proofed all the street spots and I’m not near any skate parks,” one skateboarder told CityNews. “Everything takes several bus transfers; it’s really out of the way.”

Another enthusiast says the park is a hub for skaters who live downtown.

“It’s the main skatepark — you just go here, have fun and have a good time,” he said. “But now you can’t even do that — nobody comes here.”

In a statement to CityNews, the City of Calgary says the beginner and intermediate skate park bowls will be closed until July 30.

Area Coun. Terry Wong says he feels for those impacted.

“I empathize with them. If I was a skateboarder or a BMX biker, I’d hate the fact I was told at the last minute,” he said. “We need to do better.”

Many skaters say with sections of the park closed off, they don’t have a plan B.

“We don’t have an opportunity to go to other skate parks because they’re far and stuff,” one said.

The park on the west side of Calgary’s downtown has been the site of controversy for some time, beginning with a name change prompted by a 10-year sponsorship deal with Cowboys Musical Festival in 2024.

In February of this year, organizers of the Calgary International Blues Festival — which had been held at the park for more than a decade — revealed plans were in the works to pave much of the green space at the former Shaw Millennium Park, without consultation from the public or site users.

The city ultimately launched a public survey despite the commencement of renovations.

CityNews has reached out to Cowboys Musical Festival and its parent company, Penny Lane Entertainment, for comment.