House Park Skate Park is THE place to go in Austin for both skateboarders and BMXers!
What everyone knows
The park has seen a lot of development over the years, evolving from a dusty old tennis court to a professional quality concrete skatepark. The park includes a gnarly multi-depth bowl, handrails, a mini ramp, stairs, and rails. Friendly for all skill levels, the park has an “all are welcome if you come to skate” vibe, along with ramps and rails for beginners.
What they don't tell you
The new facility was named in honor of two young skaters who were active in the community that passed away. During the design process, Parks and Rec worked with the Arts in Public Places Program to commission a local artist, Chris Levack, to produce two pieces of art for the park.
Today, this artwork isn’t just pretty to look at...it’s functional. Trilobite Shade provides a chill spot to escape the hot Texas sun. And according to Gregson, the Iron Wave, a rideable sculpture, has become a trademark showpiece of the site. Both pieces of artwork were nationally recognized for excellence among the best public artworks in the nation.
Do it like a local
Hit up the local No Comply Skate Shop just around the corner from the park for local stories, board gear, and swag. Then cruise down to the park. There’s always a familiar face, but if you’re new to the scene, the locals are approachable and down to earth type of people…it’s easy to make friends at the park. Ask one of them about all the shoes hanging from the power lines, everyone has there own tradition. During the summer you want to go early in the morning or later in the evening when the sun isn’t too hot. Trust me, there is some shade but it gets brutal by mid-day. The park is well lit after dark making it safe and great for a night skate. You didn’t hear this from me but, they rarely run anyone out even after the park “closes” at 10 pm.
For the History Buffs
The Park sits on the site of the old Austin Recreation Center. The center, which flooded during the historic 1981 Memorial Day Flood, was demolished in the late 2000s. At that time, the Parks and Recreation Department identified the site as a potential skate park.
The idea of the park worked well there because the unique status of the land presented an issue for its use. Project Coordinator Gary Gregson said that because the area was in a flood plain, “we thought the skate park was a good use for the land, which couldn’t have been used for much else.”
To ensure its success, the department hired an internationally recognized skate park design company to envision the park. The company met early in the design process with the local skating and BMX community to receive input on the park’s design, features and facilities then used this input to design today’s park.
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