Skateparks are a privately or publicly owned outdoor or indoor space specifically set-up for aggressive inline skating, for skateboarding and sometimes for BMX bikes. Entry fees are usually charged by the private skateparks, but public facilities are usually free. Many privately operated skateparks are located in roller skating centers, warehouses or free-span buildings that have a high ceiling, and public skateparks take advantage of more affordable community-owned outdoor locations.
Since skateparks are planned only for aggressive skaters, skateboarders and BMX athletes, they offer safe, challenging and fun locations for them to develop their riding techniques without endangering other recreational or fitness skaters, pedestrians or vehicles.
SkatePark Construction
Skatepark construction can be divided into two major categories – prefabricated and custom built concrete. It is important in either category to provide separate beginner and intermediate/advanced skating or riding areas for safety.
Prefabricated parks can be made out of wood, plastic, sheet metal or concrete construction materials. Most are designed and built by skatepark and playground specialists who present these parks as a less expensive alternative to custom designed concrete skateparks.
Surprisingly, some of the custom built concrete skateparks are cost competitive with prefabricated skate ramps and park structures. The concrete needs less maintenance and provides a more permanent solution for the ongoing need for urban recreational facilities. Many of the skaters and riders prefer concrete skateparks, too. Ramp-based parks that are built with wood, steel or other materials are more temporary, but they are a good solution for short term use on an existing public property.
Skatepark Styling
Most skateparks are very unique in their design, and they usually contain an assortment of things to ride and slide on including half-pipes, quarter pipes, vert ramps, pyramids, snake runs, banked ramps, full pipes, stairs, spines, grind rails, fun boxes and many other trick and stunt-oriented architectural structures. The structures included usually depends on the size of the park grounds or building and the needs of the skaters and other riders who will use the park. Inline skating and skateboarding sports to not have any standards, pre-set formats or layout rules for skatepark configurations, so each one is unique in its design and can cater to the interests, needs and skating levels of the local skating and riding community. Some communities even have skateparks that are decorated with graffiti and urban art – and they are viewed an important part of the aggressive inline and skateboard culture.
There are three types of skatepark:
Bowl Skateparks – Bowl skateparks are built with the intention of copying and even improving the original pool skating experience of the 1970s. Skaters can use the curved walls of the bowls to get momentum and skate around and across as well as the back and forth skating that can be done in a traditional half pipe ramp. Bowls and bowl skateparks can be designed in almost any size or shape (or size and shape combination) but they usually maintain a depth range of three feet to twelve feet deep.
Street Plaza Skateparks – Street plaza skateparks are very popular with inline skaters because they are planned to simulate the urban street skating or freestyle rolling experience. The Structures in a street plaza skatepark are built to appear as much like a cities' architectural elements including stairs, railings, planters and benches as possible. A skater will need to work to get around and get air in this type of skatepark.
Flow Skateparks – Flow skateparks take advantage of the structures from bowl parks and street plazas. A good flow skatepark will allow a skater to pump around on a variety of ramps and then use the aquired speed to ride street the plaza-styled architectural elements like railings, stairs or benches.
If you are looking for a safe place to skate or ride in your community, use the skatepark directory to look for new and challenging locations. The only other choice is to try do-it-yourself ramp plans and assemble your own little training space - because aggressive skating just can't come to life without safe structures to help a skater get airborne.
