Parks & Recreation

Skate Park

1330 6th Street
Ames, IA 50010
10,425 Square Foot & Lighted Facility
Hours: 6AM-10:30 PM Daily
For Skateboard and In-Line Skaters ONLY!

• Safety Tips
• Rules
• Facts & General Information
• Skill Level Map

 

Rules

• Open from 6AM-10:30PM
• For skateboard and in-line skaters only. 
• BIKES ARE NOT ALLOWED (Minimum of $50 fine, Ames City Ordinance 19.14).  
  The skate park was designed to accommodate skateboards and inline skates only.  
  It is NOT SAFE for bicyclists, and bikes will damage the facility.
• Children 12 and under should be supervised by an adult at all times.
• Skate within your ability level.  
• For your safety, protective equipment is recommended -- helmet,
   wrist guards, elbow and kneepads
• When the skate surface is wet or icy, it is dangerous and you should not skate.
• Food and drink should be kept in the spectator viewing area only.
• Spectators, for your safety, please remain in the designated seating areas.
• In the event of an emergency, a free phone call to 911 is located in the 
  parking lot of Brookside Park.
• To report reckless skaters, unsafe facility conditions, please telephone Parks & Recreation 239-5350.

Safety Tips

• 6 out of 10 injuries are to children under 15 years of age
• Users who have been skating for less than a week suffer one-third of the injuries.
• Skate within your ability level.
• Wear protective gear -- helmet, knee and elbow pads.
  Padded jackets, shorts, and gloves are also available (in addition to helmets, knee and elbow pads).  Protective gear will help absorb the impact of a fall.  With protective gear it is important to look for comfort, design and function.  The gear should not interfere with the skater's movement, vision or hearing.
• Learning HOW to fall may help reduce your chance of being seriously injured.  
  When you lose your balance, crouch down so that you will not have so far to fall. 
  Try to land on the fleshy part of your body -- not knees, elbows or head.
  Try to roll rather than absorb the force with your arms.
  Even though it may be difficult, try to relax your body, rather than stiffen-up. 
• Before using your skateboard/inline skates, riders should check for loose, broken or cracked parts; sharp edges on a skateboard; a slippery top surface; and wheels with nicks and cracks.

Skill Level Map

Facts & General Information

The Ames Skate Park serves as a wonderful example of what can be accomplished when individuals, civic organizations and the private and public sector combine their efforts to pursue developing an outstanding facility.

In 1998 the Iowa Legislature understood the need to accommodate two growing sports -- skateboarding and in-line skating.  At that time, legislators passed a law limiting a municipality's tort liability if they constructed Skate Parks.  In 1999, local business leaders, the youth of the Ames community and City staff all began working together to determine where a Skate Park could be located in Ames, what it would look like and how it could be funded.

In 2000, skaters met with design consultants from Purkiss/Rose, RSI architectural firm of Fullerton, California.  This firm has designed over 50 skate parks in six western states.  The skaters identified specific features that they wanted incorporated into the design for the City of Ames Skate Park.  In June, 2002, MLS Landscape and Design, from Granville, Iowa were contracted by the City of Ames to construct the Skate Park.  The facility opened on September 6, 2002 and features 10,500 square feet of concrete stairs, ledges, sloped banks, fun box, pyramid and rails.

Total cost for the Ames Skate Park was $218,692.  Funding for this facility came from the following:

City of Ames:  $130,000
State of Iowa Department of Natural Resources Grant:  $50,000
Noon Rotary Club: $15,000
Prairie Meadows Grant:  $5,000
Noon Kiwanis Club:  $3,200
Police Association:  $2,000
Wal-Mart Foundation:  $1,000
Midnight Madness:  $850
Lions Club:  $750
St. Johns Episcopal Church:  $500
ISU Community Credit Union:  $500
US Bank:  $250
Ames Skaters Unlimited:  $200
Many Individual Contributions:  $10-$150

The City of Ames Parks & Recreation Department manages the facility that is located on land leased to the City by Iowa State University.

For additional information on skate park construction contact:

Designer:
Purkiss/Rose RSI
Fullerton, CA
714-871-3638

Builder:
MLS Landscape and Design
Granville, IA
712-727-3800

City of Ames:
Parks Superintendent
Kevin Shawgo
Construction Manager
515-239-5364