Stratford Skatepark Project

WHEELSCAPE: THE VISIT

Despite all evidence to the contrary, a Mexican standoff in a Sergio Leone spaghetti western—this was not.
Sorry to disappoint.

What it was, however, was a visit from Russ, lead designer at Wheelscape Skateparks. He came to Stratford last month to meet with some members of our committee and take a proper look at the skatepark—not from behind a desk, but standing among the cracks, failing repairs and obstacles that have long outlived their purpose.

We walked the park, talked through its history and discussed the good, the bad and the ugly too. What works, what doesn’t, and what a better park could mean for Stratford. Russ listened to the people who know this place: the lines that once flowed, the ramps that disappeared, the repairs that never lasted and the community that kept showing up anyway—building obstacles when nobody else would.

Aerial photography gave them a view from above.
Down below, the concrete told the rest of the story.

There are no designs, grand plans or promises yet. Just experienced people asking the right questions, taking measurements, gathering evidence and beginning to understand what this place once was—and what it could be again.

Let’s face it—real change rarely arrives with much fanfare. More often, it starts like this: different generations brought together by the same goal, a few honest conversations, and being willing to take a proper look at what’s in front of them.

But what we see for ourselves is only part of the picture. The rest? Well, that comes from you. If you use the park—or care about its future—please take a few minutes to complete our community survey via the link in our bio.

Every response helps us build a clearer picture of what Stratford needs—so speak now or forever hold your peace.

This was another step forward. And an important one.
There’s plenty left to do, but this is how it gets done.

Reel dropping soon... 🎞️🎥

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: MEET DENVER

This is Denver. Funny thing is, before any of this, he was just my old neighbour. But back in the early 2020s, he became the bloke who got closer than anyone had to getting Stratford Skatepark rebuilt.

And he didn’t just have a quick crack at it.
He gave it years of his life. ‘20. ‘21. ‘22. ‘23.
Time. Money. Energy. Long meetings. Late nights.
No shortage of headaches and more setbacks than anyone should reasonably endure. Rinse and repeat.

He was all in. This wasn’t just some passing hobby. For three years, he kept showing up. There were plans. Meetings. Momentum. Even some money on the table.
And for a while, it looked like it might actually happen.
Then, just when it looked like they might actually pull it off, the additional funding they needed never came through.

Money that had already been donated became tied up in the planning process, and by 2023, after three years of pushing, that final setback proved one too many. The momentum had dried up, and the whole thing came grinding to a halt.

Not because Denver stopped caring. There was simply nowhere left for it to go. And that was that. Except it wasn’t.
Fast forward to 2026, and here we are. Same park. Same problem. Another shot at getting it right.

Denver’s still here and because apparently three years of chasing the dream, getting stuck in red tape and buried in paperwork wasn’t enough… we’ve somehow managed to rope him back in for seconds. He’s now sitting on the committee, bringing everything he learned the first time around with him.

Sure, the first attempt didn’t get the ending it deserved. But who knows? Maybe this one will.

Welcome to round two. Electric Boogaloo.

⚠️LOST AT THE SKATEPARK⚠️

A local rider accidentally left this necklace at the park Sunday and would very much like to see it again.

If you found it, picked it up, or know where it ended up, drop us a message.

Let’s get it back to where it belongs.

Thank you!

MEET TED.

Ted started skating two and a half years ago.

He’d always wanted to give it a go. Then one day, rather than keep thinking about it, he got up. Went out. Bought a board.

Simple as that.

Turns out it was one of the best decisions he ever made.
And he hasn’t stopped since.

Two and a half years later, ask him why and the answer has very little to do with tricks..

.So here’s a brief TED Talk, in his own words:

“It’s made me so many friends and given me an amazing community which allows me to get a physical outlet every day.”

Kinda funny what a plank of wood and four wheels can do…

You turn up because you want to learn how to skate and somewhere along the way, you learn a thing or two about persistence, collect a few scars, meet people you’d never have met otherwise—and, if you’re real lucky…find somewhere you belong.

That’s what a skatepark can be.

Not just somewhere to ride.

Somewhere to find your people.

THE FOUR HORSEMEN.

No apocalypse. Just four riders making the most of a patch of vintage concrete on a summer evening. The kind that reminds you why nobody ever gets nostalgic about staying indoors.

Whatever you ride—BMX, skateboard, scooter, blades, hell, even a unicycle—we’re all chasing the same thing. A few good hours that make the rest of the week feel worthwhile and that one trick you swear you’ll land before the sun goes down. Different wheels. Same language.

Sure, there are easier ways to spend an evening.
Air conditioning. Sofas. Endless scrolling.
Or… four friends. Two wheels. One skatepark.
And countless stories waiting to happen.

BMX reel coming soon 🎥

UPDATE: OWNER FOUND

The wallet was handed into the bank today and has now made its way safely back to its owner.

He’s very grateful. Turns out he used to skate too. And in a nice little turn of events, he’s even offered to chip some money in to help promote our skatepark petition.

Not a bad ending for a battered Guinness wallet found on the streets of Stratford.

Sometimes community is grand plans, meetings and people trying to change things.

Other times it’s just a lost wallet finding its way home...

A quick note for everyone following us here...

Facebook and Instagram don't always play nicely together.. so every now and then a reel refuses to make the journey across.

We'll always share what we can here, but if you ever feel like we've gone quiet, we're still over on Instagram—telling the story, one reel at a time.

If you don't want to miss anything, come join us over there too.

🎥

We've found a Guinness wallet in Stratford this evening!

A wallet's a funny thing... most of the time it's just leather, plastic and a few old receipts. Then one day you lose it, and suddenly it feels like your whole life has gone missing.

If it's yours, send us a private message with the name on the cards, roughly how much cash was inside and a few other identifying details so we can get it back to you.

If we can't identify the owner, we'll hand it in tomorrow.

FROM CHICAGO TO STRATFORD
🇺🇸🛹🇬🇧

Nearly 4000 miles apart.
Different flag. Same colours.
Same love for skateboarding.

Met Jack today while he was touring the UK with his grandma. One of the first things on his list? Finding the local skatepark.

My wife—who’s also American— had made tiramisu that morning for everyone to share, so somewhere between a bowl of homemade dessert and a few laps of the park, two strangers stopped being strangers.

That’s one of the best things about skateboarding. You can meet someone from the other side of the world and, within minutes, you’re sharing food, stories and a session like you’ve known each other forever.

Skateboarding really is a global community.

Jack turned up looking for the local scene. He left with a bowl of homemade tiramisu, a session, and a few new friends.

If you’re at the park tomorrow afternoon, you’ll catch him one last time before he heads to London.

Safe travels, Jack.

🤜💥🤛