Indoor Edmonton skate park faces closure without more funding

Users of an indoor skatepark fighting closure are petitioning the city for a public indoor facility. Matt Woodman has the details.

Edmonton’s only indoor venue for skateboarding, scootering and BMX biking is on the verge of closing.

Without more funding, the House of Wheels said it can’t stay open past the end of February, but one dedicated indoor wheeler determined to save it or find a new location for it.

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Brent Purnell, House of Wheels' chief executive officer, told CTV News Edmonton last week that costs are too high to operate the facility located inside a southside warehouse.

“The reality is this facility is at least a quarter of a million dollars short every year,” Purnell said, adding that without help, his business needs to close.

“The market’s too small to support a facility like this. The costs are just too high.”

One dedicated skateboarder, however, is determined to help save the House of Wheels or find a new location.

Gregory Woytkiw has started a petition to try to convince the City of Edmonton there’s enough support for an indoor skatepark.

“It would be nice if we had a place where we can all come together,” he told CTV News Edmonton.

Keren Tang, the city councillor for the ward in which House of Wheels operates, says while the city may be able to contribute, funding is limited.

“These projects take tremendous community efforts and fundraising and a lot of rallying, ” said Tang, who represents Ward Karhiio, adding she has taken her child to House of Wheels for birthday parties.

“Cities cannot do it alone.”

Kayla Kaliszuk of Leduc was happy to sign Woytkiw’s petition. She drives her children to House of Wheels a few days a week.

“This has been such a great opportunity to get out in the winter, keep them active and keep them out of trouble,” she said.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Matt Woodman