State College skate park opens after more than a decade in the works. What to know

The long-awaited High Point Skate Park is ready to welcome skateboarders, BMX riders and others on wheels to a first-of-its-kind space in the area. The 20,000-square-foot concrete park held its grand opening Friday after years of planning and construction.

FULL STORY: State College’s long-awaited skate park is finally opening. Here’s a look around

Here are key takeaways:

• The grand opening was officially held Friday, May 29, at 855 West Whitehall Road inside High Point Park, kicking off with a ribbon-cutting and remarks from local leaders. “When the borough first began seriously studying the idea of an action sports park more than a decade ago, a lot of people didn’t think this day would ever arrive,” State College Borough Council President Evan Myers said.

• The free park is designed for all skill levels and includes a street-style plaza, a bowl and transition zone, a hybrid middle section and a granite centerpiece. It is also wheelchair accessible.
• Construction began last year under a $1.37 million contract with Florida-based New Line Skate Parks. The total project cost more than $2 million, aided by grants and over $100,000 in local donations.

• The idea for the skate park in State College first came about in 2013. A local group of community advocates and professionals in the skating world helped design the park, including John Saxton, Gordie Kaufman, Kim Folds and Brad Groznik.
• The park operates from dawn to dusk with no lighting installed to avoid disturbing nearby homes. Smoking and drinking are not permitted.
• Parking is available on Stratford Drive and at Whitehall Road Regional Park. More information about the park can be found at www.highpointskatepark.com.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.