Skate Soup

Skatepark Listing - Penn Hills Extreme Sports Park

Penn Hills Skate Park is another Pre-Fabulous park in the Pittsburgh Area. 

It is located just up the street from Penn Hills original skatepark the Hippie Bowl.  Which is not really a bowl and we are not even sure if it really was a skatepark.  It has a fun factor of about 1. 

For some reason I didn't think to go get a photo of it, so you will just have to watch Kuel 3 - The Final Chapter if you want to see some Hippie Bowl Thrashing.  Check the Penn Hills page for more info and photos.

Skatepark Listing - Boyce Park Skatepark

Boyce Park Skatepark would be one of the better parks to skate in Pittsburgh, but it is never open and the cops are helmet enforcers.

They actually hide out in the woods to write you tickets.  I think about half of all skaters in this city have had a run in or have gotten a ticket from the County Cops regarding Boyce Park. 

You would think that a place that is built for people to go skate, they would not get harassed for skateboarding. 

But you have to think of it this way too:  When was the last time the County Cops had something to do?  They may catch a few kids sneaking into the Wave Pool at night in the summer or someone going 30 mph in a 25 mph zone within the confines of the park.  But this skateboarding stuff.....that's BIG! They can harass kids and write tickets all day long.

It is almost like the rest of the world now tolerates skateboarding, but the County Cops are stuck in 1956 waiting for Big Jimmy to bring home the State Title for football.

Skatepark Listing - Monroeville Action Sports Park

I figured I would bang out all the crappy parks at one time.  Keeping with the Pre-Fab Woodward Ramp theme (which I heard is finally going out of business in January 2009) I am posting the Monroeville Action Sports Park.

Usually the front gate is locked.  Some guy who lives nearby is supposed to lock and unlock it.  (He rarely does) So just call the number on the "Rules Board".  Talk to someone at the municipality and they will call him.  He will come down yelling and screaming at you.  It is really the only reason to go there.

Skatepark Listing - Manor Skatepark

For weeks, I've been trying to find Manor Skatepark.  It really became an obsession of mine. I'd call people up and they'd say "What the freak do you what to go there for?"  "Are you a total butt wad? You can't skate there." 

I knew exactly what I was getting into.  I knew exactly what this park was all about.  But I had to go there.  I had to go there to stop at least 1 of you from going there.  If this site does anything for the skateboarding community, I hope that it keeps kids from skating Woodward Pre Fab Ramps.

Skatepark Listing - Blairsville PA

This park is probably about an hour and a half from downtown pittsburgh.  It is about a 1/2 hour drive from the Greensburg Skate Plaza.  So, if you want to go there you are pre-warned of a little haul.  On the day we went it was about 12 degrees, windy and the ground was rough.  Sometimes, cold like that can make the ground feel worse that it actually is.  But we are pretty sure the ground is pretty rough there.

The ramps are well constructed and actually pretty fun to skate.  If you go there, take a softer set of wheels with a core and you should be alright.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE BLAIRSVILLE PARK

Skatepark Listing - Pipes Skatepark

Pipes Skatepark is located in Export PA, just outside of Murrysville.  It has become a popular winter destination on Friday and Saturday nights for bowl sessions and good times.

Click the pic or the link above for more information on Pipes

Skatepark Listing - Tarentum Skatepark

The Tarentum skatepark is about 20 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh.   Just come straight up Route 28 and take the Tarentum exit.  (2 Exits past the Pittsburgh Mills).  Turn Right, Go Two Lights and take the First Avenue Exit before the bridge.  Go a couple of stop signs and VIOLA you are at the Tarentum Skatepark. 

Just a quick note:  They have only 1 Rule that they enforce at this park.  Clean Up Garbage.  They are very strict on this one and have closed the park several times because of this.  Clean up your trash and if you see something laying around, just swallow your pride and pick it up too.

Skatepark Listing - Greensburg Skate Plaza

Part of what we are trying to do here at Skate Soup is document the who, what, when and where's of the Pittsburgh Skate Scene.  In order to do this we plan on documenting all of shops and skateparks in the area.  We have most of the shops done and are now starting to work on the parks.

One of the better concrete parks in the Western Pennsylvania area is located in Greensburg. It is well designed with street and transition.  There are rumors of a second phase for the skatepark that includes a bowl.  I have not heard anything recently to confirm or deny these rumors.  Although, I am sure by posting this I will only fuel those rumors.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SKATE PLAZA

Who Builds Buildings So That We Can Skate Them?

I didn't think anyone would purposely build a building for skating.  Definitely not in Pittsburgh.  If you are lucky enough to even find a spot at a new construction site, you better get what you can out of it as fast as you can.  Once they catch on, the nubbings and the stoppers start showing up.

Although, I appreciated reading this article on Wired (thanks to theskateboardmag.com) i do find one major problem with the design.

Does anyone else see that GIANT LAKE OF WATER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PICTURE?  You will need 10 board chasers.

They do offer a nice suggestion poster (as seen on the left).  Try Kick flipping the marble bench, laying down some berts on the sloped plaza, or 50-50 the stair ledge, Switch Crook on the Walkway Balustrade, Upper Level Acid Drops, or get wicked swervy doing some downhill slalom on the pedestrian ramp.