Calgary’s first combined pump track and skatepark is officially open. Hundreds of kids were excited to give it a try on Saturday. The Martin Family Pump Track and Skatepark opened Saturday morning in George Moss Park, in the southeast community of Ogden. A celebration was held to mark the occasion, including learn-to-skate and bike clinics, an adaptive cycling session, a free bike trad-up program, and a skate jam. The facility is designed for bikes, scooters and skateboards, while also accomodating adaptive cyclists. The park is named in honour of the project’s keystone donors, Greg and Joanne Martin. “If you’re gonna leave something behind, it should be for the younger kids, said Greg. “We hope this is the first of many others that might happen in other communities in Calgary,” said Joanne. “Perhaps this will show the way.” Funding for the project came from the City of Calgary, the provincial government, the Flames Foundation and private donors. Parks Foundation Calgary, a non-profit organization, brought everyone together to complete the project. “I had a conversation with one of the neighbours, and they were initially worried that this might create more social disorder within the community,” said Cynthia Watson, Parks Foundation Calgary CEO. “Now they’ve seen it open and with all the use that it’s had, they’ve really talked about how it’s created a sense of community and how much safer they feel,” she said. This also marks the completion of the George Moss Park revitalization, which began in 2023. The park also includes a full-sized basketball court, two half courts, a tot lot playground, community plaza picnic areas, additional trees, and a relocated and upgraded baseball diamond. For more information about the Martin Family Pump Track and Skatepark, or to donate to the park’s ongoing maintenance, go here.
