More help with DC Itinerary & Skateparks
 

While in DC, my son the skateboarder would like to visit any skatepark in the area.
On-line I found something called Shaw skatepark
Anyone know anything about this? Or how about the ESPN place.....might it have a skatepark?

I'm thinking this might be my Saturday plan. We may have had enough history by then.

Thanks again for your help.
Kathy

The Shaw skatepark (at 11th&Rhode Island Ave, NW) in the newly gentrified Shaw/Logan circle area is the ONLY skatepark in town. It has been open less than 2 years and is in perfect shape. It looks wonderful and gets a lot of use by kids from MD, DC and VA.

I don't skate, I'm WAAAY past that age.

It can easily be reach via the Shaw Metro stop on the Green Line or by walking (skating?) straight up 11th street from downtown.

How old is your son? There is nothing at the skatepark for parents (except a walk around the Logan circle area or a snack/beer at Logan Tavern). If he's old enough, then he might prefer to go alone. Does he live in a large city now and have good "street sense"??


www.logantavern.com

There's also a skate park in Gaithersburg Md, probably 1/2 to 3/4 hour drive from downtown.

http://www.skateboardparks.com/maryland/gaithersburg/

The Schuyler Hamilton Jones Skateboard Park is in Alexandria about 1 mile west on Duke St. from the King Street metro station. Not much for parents to do there though. You could perhaps combine this park with a visit or dinner in Old Town Alexandria for a nice outing.

There is also a Vans skateboard park in the Potomac Mills Mall in Woodbridge, VA. It is about a 30 minute drive from DC, but lots of shopping to do while son skates. Don't go weekday rush hour though.

I may be wrong, but I thought the Vans park at Potomac Mills closed late in 2004. You would definitely want to check before making the trek down there on a Saturday.

Although I don't want to encourage this because the boarders are doing some damage, a lot of boarders seems to congregate and skate at Freedom Plaza around 14th & Pennsylvania, usually evenings and weekends. Impromptu ramps are sometimes put up.

It might be interesting check out (when en route to other things) rather than do.

I'm don't skate, but I've seen the gaitherburg one because my son was invited to a b-day party there before the shaw park was built. It's tied to a nice waterpark/mini-golf/park complex -- but it's also a long way out in the burbs.

Thanks for all the comments and ideas.

bardo: My son is 14 and is used to street skating in Tulsa and our town, a suburb of Tulsa. He'd probably be all right alone but I'm sure his dad will go too.
So is this a city park? Do you know if there is a fee or if helmets and pads are required? Like I said, I tried to find online but only got info about trying to get it built. We'll be sure and check that one out when we get there.

We'll be sure and look into the others as well. Alexandria would be fun since we could all find something to do.

I did find info on the Gaithersburg park. It looks good. Can it be reached by Metro? We will not have a car and I really don't want to rent one.

I did find info online, posted by Vans, that stated their Potomac park would close on 12/31/04. What a bummer. It looked like a great one!

Thanks again for all the info.

Yes, Shaw skatepark is a DC city run park. There is no fee and no gear required - it is usupervised.

Shaw skatepark is preactically new and is by far the most convenient for a DC visit (even if you DID have a car). As I mentioned before, kids come into DC from the suburbs to use it - so I don't think you need to make a trek into the outskirts.

bardo,
Thanks for your prompt reply. I just finished responding to replies on my original post Re itinerary. Thanks there too.
We will plan to attend this park, but hope to also find a skateboard shop in the vicinity. Know of any?
Also, as I stated on my other thread, I hope to visit Kramers. Is this anywhere near the skatepark?

Well, I just looked at the map and located both Logan circle and Dupont circle. Maps are deceiving to me sometimes, however. Do you know the travel time between these locations?

If you're an old boarder like myself, you might totally enjoy seeing the film "Dogtown and Z-Boys" which is showing on IFC. Not to be confused with the larger release out now; the original was released in 2001 and is documentary.
Brought back many memories.

I don't know ANYTHING about board shops but I'm sure your son will get some opinions at the skatepark.

It's a 10 block walk from the skatepark to Kramerbooks. How long it takes depends on your pace (15 minutes??).

The nicest, safest, and most direct route from the skatepark to Kramerbooks would be: R.I. Ave to Logan Circle and then take P St. west until you hit Dupont Circle, then take Conn. Ave. north about 1 block.

Alternately, you could take a taxi (about $7) and be there in two minutes.

I would not suggest Metro for this particular trip becuase you would have to take the Green line in the opposite direction and then have to transfer to the Red line and double back to Dupont.

Love the post!
I've never travelled with my son without finding the local skatepark and skateshop.The best skateshops have their own t-shirts and decals;perfect souveniers. California was the best, of course:heaven for a Wisconsin guy. He got shop and park location information from skate magazines. If you find a good shop, they'll have tons of local information.

Dogtown and Z-Boys was a great movie. Don't want to see the new one.

My son and I are also planning the DC trip and I've been having the same problems online. Seems every potential skatepark mentioned (did anyone read about Reston Skatepark?) can't be accessed. I'm wondering what the problem is.

kaysue,

Call the Asylum skate shop for info on access to skateparks:

Asylum
819 7th st. NW (7th&H st. NW) - right at the Chinatown exit of the Gallery Place Metro Stop)

202-408-3336 (call during business hours)

kaysue,
When will you be in DC? We will be touring July 11-17 and plan to do the skatepark thing on Saturday, July 16. I, too, found several parks around the DC area mentioned on line. But we don't want to travel far out of the city. Bardo confirmed that Shaw skatepark is in DC and is only about two years old. Don't know if it's concrete or modular but if it's good enough for the locals and those from the burbs it should be good enough for my son. We needed a shop as well since we won't let him bring his board. We will check out Asylum Skate Shop after we finish touring monuments etc.

If you're traveling later than we are I can give you a report on my son's adventure.

Kathy