The business of playtime

A growing need for clean fun is tapped with Freedom Park and X-Spot, two new teen hangouts getting rave reviews from patrons.

By JORGE SANCHEZ, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published November 25, 2002

INVERNESS -- It's Friday night and Freedom Park has been open only a few minutes, but already things are whizzing along.

Skateboarders are sailing off ramps designed to fling them into the air for a few brief seconds. The skateboarders hunch low over their boards so as not to lose control during flight and perhaps gain enough lift for a trick maneuver, such as a 180-degree spin.

Trick bicyclists are also hitting the ramps, but much faster. The cyclists plot out a course taking them through several of the ramps at Freedom Park.

They also drive their bikes into formidable-looking metal railings stuck into the ground. They're called grind bars, and the object is to grind a metal frame of the bicycle across the bar, running about six inches off the ground, while skidding along.

Across town, the X-Spot is also drawing a gathering of young people at its pool hall and video arcade. The smoke-free X-Spot has seven professional pool tables, and on a Friday night, they are usually taken. Off to a side in a smaller room is a video game arcade, full of Xbox and PlayStation 2 terminals, with dozens of games available for rental.

Freedom Park, at U.S. 41 N and Tangelo Lane, and the X-Spot, State Road 44 and Arlene Street, are two new businesses focusing on catering to teens and preteens. Both places, each open for about a month, are drawing sizable crowds of teenagers looking for some fun on a Friday night.

"This is pretty cool," said William Cannon, 15, a Citrus Springs Middle student who was riding a bike at Freedom Park.

"It's closer and cheaper than the park in Ocala, and the ramps are just as good."

The owners of both of the new youth amusement businesses say they basically got into the business for the same reason.

"This county is geared a lot toward the older people, with golf courses and restaurants," said Brad Striff, 49, owner of the X-Spot. "But kids get bored. I've got teenagers, and they kept saying there's nothing for the kids to do here. That's the main reason I opened this spot."

Striff converted a former fence store into the X-Spot.

"I used my 401(k) money to open this place. It wasn't doing much for me for the past couple of years, so I put it to a different use," he said.

Striff said teens are starting to come to the business, and weekends are the busiest. He plans to convert a third room in the building into a dance club, featuring local bands.

He said the no-smoking policy was a personal choice.

"I don't smoke, and I couldn't stand to work here if I allowed smoking. They can just go outside to smoke. We've been able to work it out," he said.

The X-Spot also offers private birthday parties and lockins, which are parties where no one is allowed to leave until the party is over.

Freedom Park, owned by Rick and Deborah German, is open only on weekends.

"We did this for the kids, to give them a place to go," Deborah German said.

She calls the business an "extreme sports facility."

And, no, neither the name Freedom Park or anything else about the business reflects an attitude about the Inverness law banning skateboarding and in-line skating in much of the city.

"I didn't even know about that law until after we opened it and some customers mentioned it to me," Deborah German said.

She is aware of the possible liability issues stemming from extreme sports.

"We require them to sign an extensive waiver before they can ride," she said.

Giving teens a way to gather and socialize on weekend nights is a great benefit, even if it comes with a chance of some rashes and scrapes from a skateboard spill.

Theresa Cannon of Hernando brought four teens to Freedom Park on Friday.

"Three of my own and one of their friends," she said. "This is great because it keeps them off the streets. I think a lot of the problems they get into is due to boredom."

Freedom Park sessions are from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 5 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and from 1 to 5 on Sundays. Cost is $10 per session. Call 302-3011.

The X-Spot is open 1 to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 1 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday and 2 to 10 Sunday. Call 637-3215.

-- Jorge Sanchez can be reached at 860-7313 or sanchez@sptimes.com .

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