Skateparks in Virginia explained

The Commonwealth of Virginia has a spectrum of skateparks, from large parks with high budgets and designs that draw attention from the action sports community across the Mid-Atlantic to smaller DIY skateparks.

History of Skateparks in Virginia

It is hard to provide an exact number of skateparks that exist in Virginia, as skateparks in Virginia have taken many forms of development. As action sports (specifically skateboarding) exploded in popularity in the mid-1990's, enthusiasts didn't wait for the approval and financial support of their cities and counties. Do-it-yourself affairs led the charge of some of the first skateparks in many municipalities. However, even as communities have developed more public skateparks, building DIY skateparks has remained a significant aspect of the culture in the Virginia action sports community, it is not uncommon for areas to have multiple government-funded, public skateparks and DIY skateparks within the same areas.[1] The City of Richmond is a great example of this, as there are multiple public skateparks in the area; in addition, the DIY affairs of the action sports community became so popular that Richmond Parks and Recreation gave land to the Richmond Area Skateboard Alliance to pursue the legal development of a DIY skatepark in the Texas Beach area of the city.[2]

A few of the newest publicly funded skateparks throughout Virginia boast modern design techniques and the sheer acreage to make them noteworthy on an international scale. The Charlottesville Skatepark, the Woodstock Skatepark in Virginia Beach, and the Powhatan Springs Skate Park in Arlington, VA are a few of these contemporary skateparks that sit at the top of the list for anyone looking to explore the skateparks of Virginia.[3]

According to USA Today, one can skate "any season of the year at several indoor and outdoor parks across Virginia with a wide range of elements and levels of difficulty."[4] Indoor skateparks have been an extremely significant development for action sports enthusiasts. Virginia's climate invariably presents weather that can hinder people's ability to enjoy outdoor skateparks consistently throughout the year. The humid, hot days of summer, the frigid temperatures of winter, and the rainy periods that come and go all present obstacles for those looking to progress their skills. Throughout the 2010s, many of the indoor skateparks closed. As of 2021, Liberty Mountain Skatepark in Lynchburg, Virginia and Mekos Skatepark in Hampton, Virginia are the only two public indoor facilities that are still operating.[5] [6]

Virginia Skate Park Directory

SkateparkImageDatesLocationCity, StateNotes
Ashland Skatepark2004 openedPufferbelly Park37.757433°N 77.473196°WAshlandModular Ramps
Bedford SkateparkFalling Creek Rd.37.312910°N 79.503928°WBedfordConcrete
Brown Park7461 Foster RoadGloucester, VA 23061GloucesterWooden halfpipe, concrete street section
Blacksburg Skatepark725 Patrick Henry Dr.37.241902°N 80.410594°WBlacksburgConcrete
Powhatan Springs Skatepark6020 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22205ArlingtonConcrete
Dulles South Skatepark24950 Riding Center Dr.38.921631°N 77.526287°WChantilly5,600 square feet (520 m2)
Charlottesville Skatepark38.044745°N 78.477423°WCharlottesvilleConcrete
Chesapeake Skatepark36.751885°N 76.230201°WChesapeakeBlend of modular ramps and concrete features
Christiansburg Skatepark569 N. Franklin St.37.137361°N 80.413312°WChristiansburg, VirginiaBlend of modular ramps and concrete features
Fort Belvoir Skatepark38.694534°N 77.141497°WFort BelvoirModular ramps
Laurel Skatepark37.644071°N 77.508550°WGlen AllenModular ramps
GBS Skatepark760 Main ST. Edgehill shoping centerGloucesterModular ramps
Woodland Skatepark37.026560°N 76.324537°WHamptonMetal modular ramps
Herndon's Skatepark38.978288°N 77.398188°WHerndon, VirginiaConcrete
Hopewell Skatepark1022 Crestview Drive37.300790°N 77.289604°WHopewellModular ramps
Cactonin Circle Skatepark39.106884°N 77.559263°WLeesburgConcrete
Rotary Centennial Riverfront Skatepark29 9th St.37.417171°N 79.141032°WLynchburgMostly concrete with wooden mini ramp, and modular ramps
Liberty Mountain Skatepark3700 Candlers Mountain Rd.LynchburgIndoor, wooden ramps
Northside Skatepark8401 Tidewater DriveNorfolkConcrete
Mekos Skatepark3420 Von Schilling Dr, Hampton, VA 23666NorfolkIndoor skatepark, wooden ramps
Carter Jones Skatepark2013 opened2813 Bainbridge Street37.516519°N 77.460169°WRichmondOpen 24 hours year-round; aka Fonticello Skate Park. Concrete
Texas Beach Skatepark2018 opened37.532143°N 77.468639°WRichmondDIY; open 24 hours. Concrete
RVA South Side SkateparkOld Carnation St.37.499012°N 77.511927°WRichmondWooden ramps now removed, fully renovated with concrete, modern design.
Rocky Mount Skatepark37.014112°N 79.894679°WRocky MountMetal modular ramps
Moyer Skatepark37.281781°N 80.057292°WSalemArray of concrete, wooden, and metal features.
Wakefield Park Skatepark38.817580°N 77.224438°WAnnandaleTwo separate skate parks. One is of modular ramps, the other is new concrete.
Williams Farm Skatepark5269 Learning Circle36.864023°N 76.159463°WVirginia Beach25,000 square feet (2,300 m2). Concrete.
Woodstock Skate Plaza5709 Providence Road36.812162°N 76.193230°WVirginia Beach10,400 square feet (970 m2). Concrete.
Mount Trashmore Skatepark310 Edwin Dr.36.830833°N 76.120424°WVirginia Beach24,000 square feet (2,200 m2) Modular ramps.
WRV Skatepark1900 Cypress AveVirginia BeachWooden features on asphalt ground.
Warrenton Skatepark800 Waterloo Road38.718844°N 77.819294°WWarrentonModular ramps
James City County SkateparkLonghill Rd.37.296587°N 76.738043°WWilliamsburgOld concrete
Scott D. Eagles Memorial Skatepark38.641294°N 77.249846°W14300 Featherstone Rd.WoodbridgeConcrete
Lake Fairfax Skatepark1400 Lake Fairfax DrRestonConcrete
Schuyler Hamilton Jones Skatepark3540 Wheeler AveAlexandriaWooden modular ramps
Front Royal Skatepark100 Kerfoot AveFront RoyalConcrete
Luray Skatepark625 6th StLurayModular ramps
Hawksbill Skatepark178 Karl Jenkins AveStanleyConcrete
Westover Skatepark305 S Dogwood Dr,HarrisonburgModular ramps
Stanton Skatepark10660 Western AveStantonWell kept modular ramps
Yowell Meadow Park230 W Piedmont StCulpeperConcrete
J. Frank Wilson Memorial Park502 E Church StMartinsvilleMetal modular ramps
Pole Green Skatepark8813 Pole Green Park LnMechanicsvilleModular ramps
Bath County Skatepark65 Panther Dr,Hot SpringsModular ramps
Clifton Forge Skatepark1062 Vulcan Ave #814Clifton ForgeWooden modular ramps

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hodies. Eric. Woodstock Skate Park design taking shape. 2021-12-12. pilotonline.com. 3 March 2020 .
  2. Web site: After success in Southside, RVA skateboarding group eyes Texas Beach for new skate park - RVA Mag. 2021-12-12. rvamag.com. 5 May 2015 .
  3. Web site: Parker. Stacy. "It's the bombdiggity right here." A new skate park opens Wednesday in Virginia Beach and skaters are stoked.. 2021-12-12. pilotonline.com. 15 June 2021 .
  4. Web site: Skate Parks in Virginia. 2021-12-12. Travel Tips - USA Today. en.
  5. Web site: Liberty Mountain Skate Park. 2021-12-12. www.liberty.edu.
  6. Web site: MEKOS Indoor Skate Park. 2021-12-12. MEKOS Indoor Skate Park. en-US.