More than 600 people are calling on the city to take over ownership of the only skatepark in Whitehorse.

An online petition started by the Skate For Life Alliance (SFLA) had garnered 625 signatures by late this morning.

It calls on the city and territory to work together so the land can be transferred by the territory’s Department of Education to the city.

Once that happens, the focus could turn to rebuilding the park, it argues.

As Skate For Life Alliance highlighted on the petition: “Though the park is a free public facility, it has sadly been allowed to deteriorate into a neglected, out-moded, damaged and dangerous eyesore.

“This has occurred largely because, unlike almost all public skateparks in Canada, it is not municipally owned, operated, and maintained.

“The skatepark sits on land owned by the Department of Education, which does nothing to maintain it. The City of Whitehorse also takes little responsibility for the skatepark, since it is not on city property.

“SFLA is currently advocating for the municipal and territorial governments to have the current skatepark adopted by the City of Whitehorse’s parks and community development department, either through a land transfer from the territorial government or a long-term lease to the city.”

Work could then begin on rebuilding the park, it goes on, highlighting just how much design of skateparks has progressed since the city’s park was built in 1995.

Renovations would mean the park would meet current safety standards and reach more potential users.

“If a run-down, out-moded, ill-designated skatepark can attract so much usage, just imagine the potential of a professionally designed, new, smooth, concrete park with terrain to challenge and stimulate all levels of users,” the petition states.

It then notes the undersigned are “in full support of rebuilding” the skatepark under the city’s parks program “to give Whitehorse a skatepark we can all be proud of.”

The petition has sparked attention on social media, with many supporters sharing it on their social networks and calling for others to add their names to the signatures.

This is not the first time the SFLA has pointed to the importance of creating a new or renovated updated park for skateboarders, BMX riders and others who use the facility that sits on the Riverdale side of the Robert Campbell Bridge.

The group has been working in recent years to research and develop potential plans for an updated skatepark.

The skatepark’s location was the subject of debate in 2015 when the current location was being eyed as the site for a new francophone high school. That could have resulted in a new skatepark built elsewhere in the city.

Since then, though, those plans have been scrapped.

The Yukon Francophone School Board (CSFY) and territorial government have confirmed the proposed location for the new school as between the new F.H. Collins Secondary School and Selkirk Elementary School on Lewes Boulevard.

City spokeswoman Jessica Appolloni said this morning the city and territory are in the discussions about the skatepark, but it’s too early to comment on where those discussions are.

Department of Education spokesman Jason Mackey also noted the discussions are in the early stages. He added the territory is looking forward to more talks on the future of the park.

A council and senior management meeting is scheduled for mid-October where members of city council and city staff will discuss the issue and look at how to proceed.