To Mayor and Council,

We, the undersigned residents and community members, are writing to support the recognition of the existing skate park at the Sportsplex as an open-access, community-led creative space.

The Sportsplex skate park was built approximately 18 years ago. While it continues to be actively used, it is visibly aging and reflects an outdated approach to public space design. Over time, other recreational amenities in the area have received updates and reinvestment, while the skate park has largely been left behind.

At the same time, access to arts and cultural programming in our community has declined, including the closure of multiple art-related courses at North Island College. As formal creative spaces disappear, informal public spaces become increasingly important—especially for youth, families, and adults who do not thrive in traditional sports or classroom settings.

Currently, spray-painting and graffiti at the Sportsplex skate park are explicitly prohibited, and painted surfaces are routinely covered or removed. This leaves no sanctioned outlet for a legitimate cultural practice that is deeply connected to skate culture and street art. When creative expression has no lawful outlet, it does not disappear—it becomes marginalized or criminalized.

We are calling for the Sportsplex skate park to be recognized as an open-access, community-regulated creative space, where graffiti, painting (including spray paint and acrylic), and other forms of visual expression are permitted on an ongoing basis on designated surfaces—not limited to single events or special permissions.

Graffiti and street-art cultures already operate with well-established informal norms, including respecting significant work, leaving space for others, and learning through participation across generations. These peer-led practices function as self-regulation, reducing conflict and encouraging shared stewardship without heavy enforcement.

As with any public space, content that violates existing hate or safety laws would remain subject to removal. Outside of those legal boundaries, creative expression would be welcomed as a legitimate and valued use of the space.

We believe that allowing open, ongoing creative use of the skate park will:

Support youth, families, and adults who need accessible creative outlets

Encourage intergenerational connection and mentorship

Reduce conflict by replacing prohibition with shared responsibility

Strengthen care and pride in an aging public space

This petition is not calling for the replacement of the skate park or for costly redevelopment. It is a request to care for what already exists, align it with contemporary culture, and trust the community to steward the space responsibly.

We respectfully ask Council to support a collaborative process to:

• Remove prohibition-only signage
• Recognize ongoing, open-access community art at the Sportsplex skate park
• Replace enforcement-focused messaging with clear, positive community guidance