Stefan 

Wenek 

Skatepark

About the Project

The Stefan Wenek Skatepark renewal transformed a well-used community space in Orléans into a modern, inclusive skatepark designed for riders of all skill levels.

Working with the City of Ottawa, New Line Skateparks, CSW Landscape Architects and Parsons, our team delivered a 1,060 m² concrete skatepark featuring a stepped double bowl and progressive street course. Five boxes, seven sloped ramps, two stairs and five rails create a range of lines for beginners through advanced riders.

The renewed park also honours Stefan Wenek, a local skateboarding advocate and co-founder of Top of the World, recognizing his contribution to Ottawa's skateboarding community.

What We Delivered

As general contractor, R.W. Tomlinson Limited coordinated the construction of the new skatepark, with Tomlinson Ready Mix supplying the concrete used throughout the project.

The work included a stepped bowl transitioning from 1.5 metres to 2.4 metres deep, a street course with ramps, stairs, boxes and rails, concrete paving and decks, landscaping, parking lot improvements and barrier-free access to the adjacent Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex.

Delivering the complex geometry required close coordination between the designers, engineers, contractors and finishers. Construction was also carefully staged to maintain public and barrier-free access to the Recreation Complex throughout the work.

Innovation

Concrete is both the structure and the riding surface of a skatepark, making precision critical to how the finished space performs.

The bowl and ramp elements were constructed using fibre-reinforced shotcrete, allowing the team to form compound curves and tight radii while minimizing cold joints. Custom formwork helped create the transition between the shallow and deep bowls, including a 900 mm step, while coping, edge steel and embedded rails were surveyed and templated to achieve precise lip heights.

Sika Fibermesh 300 was incorporated throughout the concrete paving and shotcrete to help control cracking and improve long-term durability. A four-colour palette using integral pigments creates durable colour without relying on surface coatings while also helping define different areas of the park.

Impact

The completed skatepark gives Ottawa's skateboarding community a durable, welcoming space designed to support progression from first-time riders to experienced skaters.

Smooth riding surfaces, carefully positioned joints and precise transitions improve performance and usability, while the layout helps separate slower beginner areas from higher-speed features. Colour and geometry provide intuitive wayfinding, and barrier-free routes help connect the park with the surrounding recreation complex.

More than a recreational facility, the Stefan Wenek Skatepark creates a lasting community space that brings together technical concrete construction, thoughtful design and the legacy of someone who helped shape Ottawa's skateboarding community.