New Tampa Skate Park Is Extreme Fun

Dozens of skateboard enthusiasts and in-line skaters rolled over to New Tampa Community Park today, eager for an opportunity to practice their acid drops and alley-oops for free.

Mayor Pam Iorio helped debut the new $694,000 skate park.

"People are asking how the city can afford to run a park like this, but this is fee-based, so it's pay-to-play," she said.

"And I'm so glad that it doesn't require irrigation," Iorio said in tongue-in-cheek reference to the city's strict new watering restrictions.

The park features a concrete bi-level street course with bowls, pyramids, stairs, wedges, grind rails and a series of quarter-pipe turns.

"I understand that bowl over there goes down 8 feet," Iorio told the crowd. "This is like extreme sports in Tampa."

Daniel Jackson, 20, said he has been hanging out at a park in Land O' Lakes while he waited for the New Tampa park to open.

"It's pretty sweet," Jackson said. "This is all concrete, and it really does flow really good together. You can just go in a big circle and hit everything."

Skateboarder Lance Sodon, 12, was there to work on his kicks and tray flips. Referring to the number of ramps and other vertical structures on the course, he said, "It's very vert."

Noah Thomas, 12, suited up and stood on his skateboard waiting for the park to open. He was there with his father, who grew up skateboarding in Tampa "here and there."

John Thomas, 40, hadn't flipped a nollie for about 20 years until his son picked up a skateboard three months ago. Now the two carve and grind side-by-side.

"I don't push it like I used to, but I still have fun," Thomas said. "And we've been having some good father-and-son time. It's totally awesome."

Noah said, "It's all fun and some pain."

Before skaters were allowed on the course, boarders from Team Pain, a custom skate park design company that built the course, strapped on their helmets and put on a show.

Karen Palus, the city's parks and recreation director, touted the facility and its proximity to the recreation center, ball fields and Freedom High and Liberty Middle schools.

"This is a wonderful new corner of Tampa," she said.

Skating also is free from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Starting Monday, park fees are $4 for a two-hour open session or $35 a month for unlimited sessions. A $12 annual city activity fee also is required.

Skaters must sign a waiver and wear a helmet; additional safety equipment such as knee and elbow pads, and wrist protectors are required for skaters younger than 18.

For hours and information, call (813) 975-2794 or go to www.tampagov.net/parksandrec.