City skate park renamed in honour of Wade Galloway

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on November 11, 2022.

Herald file photo A youngster rolls through what was then known as the SLP Skate Park on the city's southside. The skate park is being renamed after the late city councillor and skateboard enthusiast Wade Galloway.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

Late city councillor and skateboard enthusiast Wade Galloway is being honoured by city council with the renaming of the SLP Skate Park on Mayor Magrath Drive in his honour.

The park, which opened in 2014, is now officially named the Wade Galloway Skate Park. The park is designed for skateboarders, freestyle BMX bikes, scooters and inline skates and features contoured concrete with various obstacles and multiple rails.

The site was a passion project for Galloway, whom mayor Blaine Hyggen remembered fondly Thursday morning.

“I’m absolutely thrilled,” said Hyggen who was a close personal friend of Galloway’s.

“I knew the time and the effort he put into having this realized,” said Hyggen, calling Galloway’s efforts “outstanding.”

“It was just exceptional that he would dedicate that much time so that months later, here we both together at the same time, decided to run for council. And we actually worked quite well together. . .we shared a similar vision.

“So when this all came to pass and the skate park was introduced, it was great to see that happen but even better now . . . to have that named in his honour is phenomenal, it really is,” said the mayor.

Galloway, said Hyggen, was someone who had a passion for skateboarding and was “an incredible businessman, a thinker, someone who was always thinking outside the box and someone who was dedicated to this community. He loved this community and would do anything to see it become a better community,” added Hyggen.

The renaming is a multi-year sponsorship deal with the Wade Galloway Foundation. The sponsorship agreement includes a 20-year deal at $12,500 for the first 10 years and $15,000 per year for the next 10 for a total commitment of $275,000.

Galloway was elected to council in 2013 and died months later at the age of 37 in February of 2014 when he was caught in an avalanche while snowboarding in Waterton Lakes National Park.

In a press release from the City, Galloway’s father Bill says of his son “Wade loved skateboarding when he was young. He wanted nothing more than to have a community space where he could share that passion with his own children as well as all young people. He worked hard to make that happen and we are honoured to use funds from his Foundation to recognize that dedication and enhance the city he loved.”

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