‘Back to the drawing tables’: Penticton councillor withdraws motion on skate park graffiti

Coun. Ryan Graham withdraws motion after meeting with user groups of Penticton Youth Park

‘Back to the drawing tables’: Penticton councillor withdraws motion on skate park graffiti Published 3:47 pm Thursday, July 16, 2026 Coun. Ryan Graham withdrew his notice of motion on Tuesday, July 14, that called for graffiti to stay when drawn at Penticton Youth Park “unless it is vulgar or offensive in nature.” Graham said he has met with user groups since drafting the motion and that his approach to the idea has changed.

“We’re actually going back to the drawing tables and coming up with a different approach with respect to graffiti at our skate park,” Graham said. City staff had warned that allowing graffiti at the park could bring operational challenges, particularly in determining what is and isn’t considered offensive content. But they also noted that if council wanted to proceed, it could introduce designated art walls or curated murals at the site.

It’s an idea other councillors, including Graham, appeared to be receptive to. “I hope that through this dialogue, we do see artwork put up there,” said Coun. Isaac Gilbert, after Graham withdrew the motion.

“One thing I did talk with Coun. Graham was about the possibility of having like a ‘skate club’ that could monitor that and focus on getting artists to come.” Penticton Youth Park, built in 2007, is considered the third-largest of its kind in B.C.

The 30,000-square-foot skateboard and BMX facility is located at 135 Riverside Dr. “I kind of envision something like a ‘paint the park,’ like what we did in the back alleys,” added Coun. Jason Reynen. “Having an organized thing (like that) would be cool.”

Graham said he’ll be coming back to present a new graffiti-related motion in “next month or so with a more rounded game plan.”