Construction to start on State College’s long-awaited skate park. What to know
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- State College skatepark construction begins in June after years of planning.
- Borough officials approved $1.37M contract with New Line Skateparks to build park.
- $2M project includes ramps, rails, and features for all wheels and skill levels.
Construction on a long-awaited State College skate park is expected to begin shortly, developers say.
The State College Action Sports Park, also known as High Point Skatepark, will break ground in June before construction continues over the summer and fall. Work on the 20,000-square-foot park is expected to finish by the end of 2025, its developers said Tuesday.
Work is ready to start after the State College Borough Council approved a $1.37 million contract with Florida-based New Line Skateparks to construct the park on Whitehall Road. Last month, State College’s council approved a $568,339 contract with WG Land Company LLC to perform initial site work before construction on concrete structures and other key park features begins.
Overall, the $2 million park will make itself available for all ages, skill levels and wheels — including skateboards, BMX-style bicycles, in-line skates and scooters. The wheelchair-accessible skate park will replace High Point Park’s unused baseball field and ultimately occupy about 3 acres of the 6-acre lot. Key features for the park include rideable ledges, stairs, rails, ramps and a quarter-pipe, plus new rock work, seating areas and a center courtyard.
Professional skateboarder and State College native Jake Johnson helped develop conceptual designs for the skate park with the help of his father, a professor emeritus of landscape architecture at Penn State. He said the park will finally provide a dedicated space for those interested in action sports — one that’s long overdue.
“Growing up skating in State College, we never had a truly designated space to call our own — now, that’s changing in a big way,” Johnson said in a written statement. “This park isn’t just sculpted concrete, it’s a launching pad for community, creativity, and athletics. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been skating for all your life, the park is designed to welcome and challenge everyone. The flow, the layout, the thought that went into every lane and pocket — it all encourages safe progression and spontaneous style. I’m proud to help make this dream become a reality.”
Funding for the park is aided in part by several grants, including some from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the Hamer Foundation, the Centre Foundation and The Skatepark Project, founded by skateboarding legend Tony Hawk. The skate park project also received more than $100,000 in donations from local residents and businesses, developers say.
“A huge thank you to everyone who helped us reach our fundraising goal,” volunteer Brad Groznik said in a statement. “We are thrilled that our community recognizes the need for a skatepark so kids of all ages can learn and build their skills. We believe the park will be a destination for locals and out-of-town visitors, and we can’t wait to see it operating next year.”
Plans for a dedicated skate park in State College were first proposed more than a decade ago. An ad hoc committee in 2017 recommended High Point Park as a more ideal fit for such a park thanks to its accessibility by bus, bike or car and its proximity to nearby State College Area High School, Corl Street Elementary and downtown State College.
High Point Park’s future skate park encountered many hurdles before local officials approved construction and secured enough funding for the project. Organizers say the park is finally taking a major step toward becoming a reality thanks to the hard work of its supporters.
“We want to thank the Borough Council, Borough Staff, State Representatives Scott Conklin and Paul Takac, Centre Foundation and the hundreds of community donors for their support and help allocating critical funding to this project,” volunteer committee leader Gordon Kauffman III said in a statement.
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