Findlay park an attraction for skaters from all over
Thursday, May 18, 2006
By Brian David, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

An 18-year-old high school kid stood next to a skater friend talking "fakies" and "feebles" on a recent afternoon at the new skate park in the Findlay Sports and Recreation Area on Route 30.
The park opened April 24 as part of a $5.3 million upgrade of the township recreation area, paid for with state and private grants, along with township funds.
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"We're reaching a different type of audience with this type of facility than what we would get with baseball or soccer fields," Findlay Manager Gary Klingman said. "We want to diversify, reach different audiences."
The new skate park could have been dreamt up by Dr. Seuss. The "bowl" -- a misnomer of major proportions -- is actually a series of fanciful cliffs and canyons scooped in concrete so smooth it looks like soft ice cream.
A snake run -- a steep-sided, round-bottomed canyon -- loops and curls around two sides. The wall looms high for "vert" tricks in one spot; in another nook, it actually curls overhead, well past vertical.

What in the world do you do here?
"Go up in it real fast," BMX bike rider James Goodlin, 16, of Findlay, said with a grin.
On the other side is the "pool," a hole poked straight into the ground. The other skaters recruited Brett Paslow, 18, of Bethel Park, to demonstrate.
"I can't ride it!" Mr. Paslow said in protest. Then, he proceeded to ride it, at least well enough to stay on his skateboard for three or four runs up the various walls.
In between is a plateau of dips and ramps for individual tricks.
"This is one of the greatest parks I've ever skated, and it's free," said Ryan Breinig, 18, of Union, Washington County, standing next to the bowl.
"It's like some park out in California," said Craig Smith, 24, of South Fayette.
"You feel like you're on vacation," Chris Amodeo, 19, of Bethel Park, added. "You don't even think you're at home. It's like you're in a whole different world."

A common thread among skaters on a recent afternoon was that most were not from Findlay. Mr. Klingman said while Findlay officials have heard concerns -- that the township is paying for a facility used by many from other places -- he thinks that is a shortsighted viewpoint.
"We are getting grant money for the park and have an obligation to serve the general population," he said. He noted that many people who don't live in Findlay reserve Findlay picnic shelters, and softball tournaments draw many teams from other communities.
Besides, drawing people in should be good for township business -- a skate shop recently opened in the township's Imperial neighborhood, for instance -- and it will keep skaters away from businesses and other public places where they tend to be a nuisance.
Zach Fields, 19, of Robinson, can vouch for that. Before the park opened, he and some friends used to ride at an abandoned Burger King. He said he recently escaped arrest when police checked his ID and "found out I was an Eagle Scout and let me go."
Mr. Klingman also had answers ready for the other common concern -- that there would be behavior problems at the park and problems with trash and vandalism.
The $5.3 million park is blanketed with surveillance cameras and motion detectors. A gate for the area closes at 11 p.m., and a 10-foot chain link fence surrounds the skating area.
Signs at the skating area's entrance strongly encourage use of safety equipment, but it is not required, and few wear any.
The rules prohibit food and drinks inside the skating area, a rule that brought mixed reactions from skaters. Several thought it was a bit much to ban drinks because skating is strenuous exercise and the skating area doesn't have a water fountain. But Mr. Amodeo likes it for one simple reason: "I don't want to clean up after other people."
There's also no spray-painting or other graffiti, which caused some grumbling among skaters. "I think it could use some spray paint," one said. "It's part of the whole skating thing."

First published on May 18, 2006 at 12:00 am
Brian David can be reached at bdavid@post-gazette.com or at 724-375-6816.