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A skate park is a recreational area where skateboarders, inline skaters, and bicyclists can perform tricks. Two essential components of any skate park are halfpipes, quarter pipes and handrails. A skate park may also contain trick boxes, vert ramps, pyramids, banked ramps, full pipes, stairs, and any number of other trick-oriented objects.
Skate parks may be privately owned or publicly owned. Privately owned skate parks usually have admission fees, and publicly owned skate parks have no entrance fee. Many privately owned skate parks are indoors, usually in warehouses, roller rinks or building with tall ceilings, especially in areas of the world with snowy winters.
Public skate parks are almost always outdoors, and close during the snowy season.
History
Skate parks did not start out as such. The birth of skate parks coincides with the birth of skateboarding. Surfers would make skateboards from 2x4's and roller skate wheels to ride on streets, sidewalks, slopes and in empty swimming pools. Empty swimming pools grew in popularity among surfers in the early 1970's. Public awareness of such activites also grew, making it more difficult to find pools. The first skate parks in america were built. California and Florida were the first states to have skate parks. Most were outdoors, had simulated swimming pools, snake runs and bowls. Skate parks evolved over time, incorporating elements of street skating, such as ledges, handrails, stairs, and funboxes. Today, skate parks can contain any number of elements, set up in any way.
Controversy
Skate parks have faced complaints from many people, especially NIMBY's. Usually outdoor, public skate parks receive complaints about all night lights, noise, crowds of "punk teenagers", and graffiti. While graffiti is considered artistic at times in skate parks, it also can be a safety hazard, due to slick, slippery surfaces. An outdoor skate park will not generate any more noise than a busy road, a basket ball court, or a school playground.
One ongoing conflict is access to skate parks by BMX bike riders. The claim by skaters is the pegs in the wheel axles, as well as the pedals, will destroy wood and concrete surfaces. However, there are many special ramp surfacings that will not be destroyed by bikes.
Skateboarders and Inline skaters have been engaged in conflict for sometime too. Some skateboarders often use remarks such as "fruitbooters" or "rollerfags" or "binliners" to refer to inline skaters. Skateboarders have claimed that inline skaters "copied" skateboarders, stole their tricks, and stole their style. The truth to this matter remains in disput.
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