JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – A new skatepark opened in Jacksonville Beach on Thursday with a grand opening ceremony that included a ribbon cutting and skating demonstration by local 12-year-old skating sensation Tyler Kirshenbaum.
The park, which is off of South Beach Parkway is open from daylight until dusk seven days a week. Only skateboards are allowed, no BMX bikes.
All of the Jacksonville Beach city council members voted in favor of the skatepark. Jacksonville Beach Mayor Charlie Latham also attended the grand opening.
“We're going to continue to strive every day to make Jacksonville Beach a little better and a little more family-friendly every day,” Latham said. “This is a huge day.”
The skatepark is an effort years in the making. The process began in the mid-2000s but was put on hold. Since then, a lot has happened to find a spot big enough to put in a park that fits the needs and wants of the local skating community.
“There is every element of skateboarding that's involved in the skate park,” Tony hall, from Jax Beach Surf Shop, said. “This (skatepark) kind of has it for the old guys like me, and it has it for the young kids, (too).”
Latham said one of the things he likes the most about the skatepark, and feels the skaters and community will embrace the most, is how clean the park is, and how family friendly it is. Lantham added that many of the skaters have already said they will be policing themselves to keep it safe.
For the skaters, it's something they have wanted to see happen since discussions first began. Skater Dan Quintal said it’s the most pristine skate park he has ever skated. He got a look at that action Wednesday morning, hitting the ramps along with a couple of others. After a few minutes, he was impressed.
"It's pretty much in pristine condition. I don't see any cracks forming or anything like that,” Quintal said. “They did a really good job incorporating different elements of skateboarding that I think a lot of people are looking for here that hasn't been found in other parks.”
Kirshenbaum’s dad said the new park might even help grow the skating community.
“That’s probably one of the best parts of it. It allows people in other parts of the community to see skateboarding and experience it,” Todd Kirschenbaum said.
Neighbors express noise concerns
Some neighbors said that there may be a lot of noise coming from the new skatepark. News4Jax spoke to some skateboarders who say they understand the concern but don't think it will be a problem at all.
"It's good that they are showing concern. However, I think that they will be alleviated once they see the park in action," Quintal said.
Some have complained about the potential for high noise levels from the skate park, especially on weekends when it is very crowded. Chuck McCue used a sound meter to test the noise levels at the park.
"There are instances where a good trick was performed and guys would yell and scream and bang their boards so that spiked up. But the overall was probably, for the skate park, right at 84. The playground the other day was packed so that was upper 80's, 86-87," McCue said.