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Sanctuary for skaters

St. Petersburg's newest skate park opened Saturday. Its design is meant to make skaters feel like they're downtown.

By Times Staff Writer
Published August 31, 2005

Styled to resemble a sidewalk obstacle course, St. Petersburg's newest skate park lured 132 rolling acrobats to its grand opening Saturday at Lake Vista. A slew of city officials did the honors, delivering 20 minutes' worth of speeches - but the mostly youthful skateboarders, inline skaters and freestyle cyclists began showing up at least an hour before the formalities. First blood came at 12:15 p.m. when Lane Roney, 12, got smacked in the nose by his own board. "That's hard-core ... man, that's hard-core," he said.

The 8,400-square-foot park is called a "street plaza," so named because it replicates steps, rails, planters, benches and sidewalks - the elements available in downtown neighborhoods where skateboarders are banned. "We've given them everything they'd like to skate when there's no place to skate," said Robert Norton, a city employee whose special interest is skate parks. The design, by Winter Springs-based Team Pain, is one of just two in Florida, Norton said. Proceeds from the sale of the city-owned Weeki Wachee property in Hernando County paid for the $250,000 venue.

Saturday's opening was free. Officials gave away 25 helmets and awarded five trophies to hotshot skaters. Two excited dogs provided a yappy cheering section, while the humans present applauded and whistled for particularly dazzling moves. Admission will be charged from now on. City residents pay $24 per year; nonresidents, $38.40. The skate park year is based on membership from Aug. 1 to July 31, 2006, and the fee is reduced for those who buy a membership later in the year. Daily fees are $2 for residents, $3.20 for nonresidents. Each user must wear a helmet and sign a waiver. A parent or guardian must sign a waiver for skaters under 18, and those younger than 10 must be supervised by an adult. Lake Vista Park is at 1401 62nd Ave. S. For information, call 893-7744.

[Last modified August 31, 2005, 01:21:25]