Updated: Wed May. 13 2009 18:27:38

ctvedmonton.ca

Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel is looking to change where skateboarders hang out in our city.

And he's suggested that a skateboard park should be set up in the near future in the city's downtown.

Skateboarding is forbidden at Churchill Square, partially because of the damage it can cause to infrastructure, but that doesn't stop some from using the area to skate.

Sean Yardley said skateboarding is more than hobby to him, it's his mode of transportation. He said Edmonton's downtown isn't at all skateboard-friendly.

"All the good spots to skateboard, they say no skateboarding or you're not allowed to."

Mandel said he understands skateboarding is something young people do and feels it's time to find a place for them to skate freely.

If we're going to make downtown comfortable for kids let's find a place to build a skateboard park," he said.

A number of other cities in the country already have designated skateboarding parks, including Calgary and Winnipeg. Both parks draw in thousands of skaters each year. Just a few years ago, an international skater, Tony Hawk, flew to Winnipeg just to check out the park.

Yardley said if the skateboarding park was created, it would definitely attract a crowd.

"There are a lot of skateboarders in the area on a daily basis so I don't see why not."

Mandel has asked city planners to come up with some park options soon and so far, no estimate on the cost has been discussed.

The skate park in Winnipeg cost about $2.5 million three years ago.

With files from Bill Fortier