Best skate parks around the Twin Cities

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Henry Quant

Sophomore Eli Mason performs a nosegrind at Third Lair.

Henry Quant, Staff Writer

Hopkins Overpass Skate Park

Hopkins Overpass Skate Park is a genius idea. Building a skatepark underneath a freeway creates a different type of experience. It is a giant ramp area, with a massive halfpipe, ramps all throughout the park, and boxes and jumps. The half pipe reaches over 15 feet in height, and one ramp reaches 13 feet tall, leading straight into a jump. These ramps are used primarily by veterans of the skatepark; new skateboarders use the two small quarter pipes and small half circle jump that connect the two. Because of its location, the Overpass Skate Park isn’t very well known and so there is always something to do without having to wait. This skatepark in particular has an urban feel, with the sound of traffic and construction surrounding it.

Third Lair

Third Lair is a pay-to-enter skate park, and for good reason. It has multiple outdoor features, like boxes, rails, and ramps. Indoors, it has a large ramp, that is similarly equipped with multiple rails, boxes and ramps in the middle. On one side, there is a large bowl with a shallow and deep end for riding.  On the other side, there is a tall ramp leading into a steep drop. The two big ramps lead to the same smaller box. Third Lair is well known, so it is almost always crowded, no matter what day or time. Admission is 15 dollars for an all day pass, and bmx’ers are allowed to attend as well.  They have posters of skating companies, graffiti, and paintings all around the park, giving it a more unique and colorful view than normally seen in a skatepark.

Augsburg Skate park

Augsburg Skate Park is a small, concrete flatground park. It was built to be used by anyone, from novices to pros. There are ramps, euro gaps, jumps, and a flat ground surface with a box and a rail. There is a set of stairs, along with a metal handrail for grinds, as well as a downward facing box for riding or grinding. It’s located on a grassy hill above a sidewalk and a road, and unlike some skateparks, it’s free to skate there. At two corners of the park there is a steep drop onto a flatground area with rough concrete; however it isn’t wise to skate around there because of all the glass from broken bottles. Very few people go to Augsburg Skate Park, which means it’s a good place to practice alone.

Lions Park

The skate park at Lions Park is brand new. The grand opening was on Saturday, September 17, and the turnout was phenomenal. People of all ages were there trying out the new ramps, quarter pipes, and bowls. The highly-anticipated park had been under construction for a long time before it opened, but now is the ideal time to drop in. Being all-concrete, it is desirable location to shred. This fully-loaded outdoor skate park is free and open from 5am to 10pm daily. Some of the best features include an amazing amoeba-shaped bowl, a quarter pipe, rails, stairs, and boxes that will keep skateboarders of all ams and pros (amateurs and professionals) busy all day.