Skateboarding is a global community that creatively reappropriates the
urban environment, often facing a tense relationship with the public and
governing bodies. Through a literature review of planning theories and
relevant planning documents, and three semi-structured interviews with
individuals involved in building skateboarding, this research examines
the development of DIY (Do It Yourself) skate spots in Calgary, Alberta,
and the relationship between the skate community and the City of
Calgary in co-creating the city. The methodological approach taken in this
study is exploratory in nature, considering how the theories of tactical
urbanism have been articulated in practice, and lessons learned that
may support future DIY skate spot growth in Calgary, and beyond.