Jasper could produce its very own Tony Hawk if a group of residents get their way, as several citizens have banded together in an attempt to upgrade the Jasper skate park.

Greg Ricker, a by-law officer with the municipality, said there is a definite need for improvement with the park. He’s forming a committee to help look after the facility which he hopes will attract more users to the area.

“We need something more than what the skateboard park has to offer,” Ricker said. “We have a 20 by 80 foot area and we’d like to put a halfpipe in there.”

Such a structure will cost about $25,000, so several fundraisers have been launched. Businesses have agreed to collect donations for the skate park upgrade, and the group (which is still working on a name) will hold a barbecue and sell pop in order to raise money this summer. 

For years, skateboarders have complained the park has not been well kept. Tools needed to adjust many of the ramps and jumps have been lost. Better maintenance will result in more usage, Ricker believes.

“Stuff needs to be repaired and maintained,” Ricker said.

Manager of Culture and Recreation Yvonne McNabb has handed the file over to Ricker, who would like to pursue grant opportunities for the upgrades. While the tools and smaller features can be added through fundraisers (an Allen key is needed), the larger projects will require some government assistance.

“It’s a community initiative and I support it. I grew up doing it,” Ricker said, who has been skating since he was 16-years-old. 

He has also been informed any developments with the proposed new high school will not immediately affect the skatepark. There is a large section of the skate park that is still undeveloped.

Selling signage on the cage that surrounds the park is another option the committee wants to explore.

“As we make money, we’ll add more features to the park,” Ricker said.

Speaking as a bylaw officer, he said he doesn’t have a lot of dealings with the skate park. There has been a spate of graffiti recently, but they are rarely called to the park. He also believes less skateboarders would use the downtown area if the skatepark was in better shape.

He’s surprised how many skateboarders live in Jasper, and many tourists who visit the town also use the park. While a full underground bowl similar to the park in Hinton is unlikely, he said upgrades are possible.

“It would be nice to put in a common area... right now we have no shrubs or benches,” Ricker said.

The town is also hosting a skate camp at the park this summer. Fundraising will begin to appear in the community in the coming weeks.