PASHEK & ASSOCIATES SKATEPARK DESIGNS

FINDLAY TOWNSHIP SKATEPARK

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Name: rese mcgaughey Email: resemcgaughey@yahoo.com

Comments: I met u guys at imperial skatepark, and im very sad to hear what happend. Im very sorry and give the best wishes to ur family. If you guys need any ideas for your skatepark feel free to ask ill be more than happy to help out 

 

Note:  I took a trip out to the Imperial skate park in Findlay Twp.  IT IS A NICE RECREATIONAL AREA! Information was gathered there from the wonderful boys I met out there!  They were very polite and eager to hear about our project because many of them traveled for miles (i.e.Blairsville, Bridgeville, etc)  Most had been there since 11am and planned to stay there until the lights go out at 11pm! Whole families drop their kids off there and one truck pulled up with a trailer at 8pm as I was leaving with about six bikes and some skateboarders! Imperial has one metal half pipe, some trick boxes and a metal quarter pipe (excuse me if I am wrong) the rest is cement and a grind rail. The course is pretty darn cool... except I saw a very deep small bowl that looked like it didnt get much use and acutally looked quite scarey to me ..lol  

The tops of the cement have metal on them for grinding (called coping)....the bikers loved the course...the bladers seemed to stay mostly on the metal quarter and half pipes!  Eyeing up the place and trying to meausre it by the six foot sections of fence, I believe it was about   18,000 sqaure feet.  They have cameras and lights.... police come through every now and then the boys told me, but there hasnt been any trouble there yet!  No grafitti was visible and it says drinks not allowed passed the gates, however there were and I cant say I blame them.  They were constantly moving...all of them ...and ranged from about 20 down to 8 or so.

The only hazzard I saw in the whole place was me ...standing in the middle of the course...and an occasional stray skateboard coming towards my ankles...lol... I wised up and stood behind some bikers I was talking to! :)  Unfortunately...NO ONE HAD ON HELMETS :(  But...on a Saturday night... these 8- 20 year old kids were having the time of their lives.... and there were some darn good tricks landed while I observed!

They have bleachers for "the girls" and parents to sit and watch as they show off! :)

(btw--- they have a deck hockey rink there and basket ball courts. Nice picnic area and bathrooms the boys told me ...not too clean :( but this place is like heaven to these boys!)

All in all...my impression was:  very congenial, courteous kids... I invaded their course and they all took the time to talk to an oldster :) and really seemed interested in the project.  I took some pictures but it is hard to tell from them as it is like a cut out pool with no paint!

DIRECTIONS TO THE IMPERIAL PARK FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN CHECKING IT OUT: Go the parkway toward the airport. Get off on 22/30 towards Star Lake.  Take the exit toward Racoon State Park.  Go through the light by the Exxon Station and the Shop and Save will be down on the left.  Continue toward Racoon...go through Imperial...and there will be a sign about a Lake...(?name) but it will say Recreational Area/Park..on the right.  Make that right and go up the hill...and you will be pleasantly suprised! (It takes about 30 minutes and its a nice drive) 

Bring your bike/blades/boards and try the course...let me know what you think!  (Not reccommended for parents. LOL)





SOUTH PARK SKATEPARK
ALLEGEHNEY COUNTY PARKS



          Went to South Park and was impressed by the lay out.
A little smaller than I though it would be however nice!  The first thing a skater mentioned to me within five minutes was that the half pipe there is way to steep....waste of money he said.....no one uses it!  To me the half pipe is as scarey as heck!  Like an accident waiting to happen...must be for extremely advanced skaters...for sure! 

       Seemed like an older crowd there...everyone drives or they live close enough to ride their bikes (lucky them)!  Ages between 15-23 or so and a lot of kids were there.  Everyone was pleasant, interested, and willing to talk to me.  I would say there were about 25-30 there at 7PM. 


Comments to me were:

Lights  gotta have them!
Mini pipe
Don't put a half pipe that steep!
Several heard about the project. Thanked me and asked me when it would be done.
Several asked how they could help with the design, etc.
Music...would be nice!

Personally...  I loved the bowls....  I saw a skater doing them all.  Granted he was good...but nice flow to the bowls even for bikers!  I think they were better then Finley...sorry...just my humble opinion but Finley has a better half pipe...but less fun boxes.  I liked the trick boxes and rails at South Park better too!

Seems to me.... a combination of the bowls and the boxes from South Park and then the half pipe from Finley and the lights.....would be perfect for our project!


BTW.....both parks were built by the same company!

Please take a look at both parks...worth the drive for anyone!

Hopefully soon...you wont have to drive too far to use a park like this....we are gonna "get er done".


Any skaters from there that read this...please contact us using the contact form on this site!  THANKS GUYS!