Accessible Skate Parks

In 2020, Canada’s first “accessible Skate Park” was open. This facility incorporates many low cost easy to install acomodations which opens the sport of Skate Boarding to partially sighted youth; or for that matter, anyone of any age.
The following guidelines were developed by an enthusiastic and committed group of youth who clearly demonstrate that skate boarding, with modifications, is a sport previously thought of as not available to people living with low vision, can be safely enjoyed.
To learn more about the Alt Route – Accessible Skatepark visit their page.

For proof of concept, this video created by AMI provides an in-depth overview of the project.

These are the guidelines and recommendations developed by the Alt Skaters of Calgary.

Alt Route Skatepark Accessibility Methods

Transition Markers

  • Transition Markers are high contrast, multicolored strips that indicate a change of angle between a flat surface and the ramped surface of a skatepark obstacle (wedge ramp, quarter pipe, bank, wallride, et cetera). These markers allow a low vision skateboarder to better prepare for the change in angle as they use the obstacle.
  • The colors used are white and neon pink.
  • A white strip is placed on the flat surface at the seem where a ramp ascends or descends, and a neon pink strip is placed directly next to the white where the ramp begins to ascend or descend.
  • White indicates flat surface, while pink indicates angle change.
  • Additional strips of white placed on a flat surface several inches or feet before an obstacle, and additional strips of neon pink placed several inches or feet up or down the obstacle can be added for more contrast indication.
  • Colors may be altered according to the original color of the skatepark obstacles to create the most contrast.
    See CNIB’s guidelines on colour contrast for more details.

Route Markers

  • Route Markers are high contrast, multicolored strips that traverse preplanned paths over or through one or more skatepark obstacles. These markers allow a low vision skateboarder to traverse larger sections of a skatepark without the need of vision beyond the immediate surrounding, and ensure a safe route devoid of any tripping or falling hazards.
  • Route markers consist of two parallel lines: one solid neon yellow line, and one dotted neon green line.
  • Route markers are placed on and between skatepark obstacles in a way that best follows the natural, kinesthetic flow of the skatepark, and help low vision skateboarders use the obstacles as efficiently as possible.
  • Colours may be altered according to the original color of the skatepark obstacles to create the most contrast.

Hazard Markers

  • Hazard Markers are high contrast, multicolored strips that indicate the presence of a skatepark obstacle that may act as a tripping or falling hazard (handrails, flat rails, stairs, gaps, drops, ledges, et cetera). These markers allow a low vision skateboarder to safely plan their route on or around these obstacles.
  • Hazard markers are dotted red and white strips. These strips are placed around each tripping or falling hazard in an outline that defines the entire shape of the obstacle.
  • The width of the marker may be increased for more contrast around obstacles that present greater risk of tripping or falling danger (edges of large drops, large stair sets, edges of bowls and halfpipes, et cetera).

LED Guide Lights

  • LED guide lights serve the same function as route markers and hazard markers, but emit light for low vision skateboarders who still have good light perception.
  • Guide lights can be used to outline the shape of an obstacle, provide a safe route to follow, or indicate the presence of a drop, gap, or set of stairs.
  • Colours and brightness can be edited on the fly, making guide lights an excellent accommodation for various types of vision loss.

Haptic Markers

  • Haptic markers are high contrast, textured strips that provide vibrational feedback under board and foot to indicate the approach of an advanced skatepark obstacle (stairs, gaps, edges of halfpipes, et cetera). These strips work in conjunction with hazard markers to allow low vision skateboarders to safely navigate more advanced skateboarding techniques, such as ollieing gaps/stairs, planning an extended run in a halfpipe, or ollieing onto a ledge or rail.
  • Haptic markers are a set of three strips of small gauge wire cut to the width of the skatepark obstacle and secured in place by solid red hazard markers.
  • These markers are placed four to six feet before the obstacle to allow a low vision skateboarder to create a sense of rhythm between the feedback of the haptic marker and the approach of the skatepark obstacle.
  • Haptic markers are also placed along the sides of halfpipes to indicate that a low vision skateboarder is nearing the edge of the obstacle and needs to correct course back towards the center of the ramp.
  • Smaller, temporary haptic markers can be strategically placed anywhere a low vision skateboarder needs to creatively approach any advanced skateboarding technique, such as ollieing on to rails and ledges, or rolling into halfpipes or bowls over the coping.

Audio Beacons

  • Audio beacons emit a quiet, yet noticeable tone, such as a beep or a tick, in strategic areas of a skatepark. Low vision skateboarders use audio beacons to navigate towards, on, and through skatepark obstacles.
  • These devices, in conjunction with haptic markers, can be placed on either side of a halfpipe giving a low vision skateboarder two points of reference to help stay centered on the ramp during extended runs.
  • Two devices can also be used to help a low vision skateboarder sense both the takeoff and landing points of a gap, drop, jump, or set of stairs.
        • Audio beacons can also be used to indicate the beginning and end points of ledges or rails enabling a low vision skateboarder to sense when they are sliding, grinding, or balancing to the end of these obstacles.