Best Of

Best Skate Parks In Minnesota

June 5, 2015 / 7:00 AM CDT / CBS Minnesota

Gossip on great skatepark design travels the word of mouth half pipe quicker than broadband. One sure indicator of a great park is longevity. Bad design or a cluttered contamination of bikers and skaters can equal a buzzkill. If a skater haven has stood the test of time, chances are it will have something for the beginner and the old school skater.

3rd Lair Skatepark And Skateshop
850 Florida Ave. S.
Golden Valley, MN 55426
(763) 797-5283
www.3rdlair.com

In Minnesota, it's 3rd Lair, and everything else. This park is renowned for the street course, indoor and outdoor ramps, and excellent community. 3rd Lair has a great balance of family community events, hardcore skaters, and resources for beginners. Its only downfall could be its popularity that leads to overcrowded courses.

Overpass Skate Park
100 Washington Ave. S.
Hopkins, MN 55343
(763) 797-5283
www.hopkinsmn.com/overpass

Somewhat an offshoot of 3rdLair, Overpass Skate Park is operated by the staff, but owned by the city of Hopkins. Summer camps for BMX and scooters are offered throughout the summer at various skill levels. The park's unique location shields its participants from the rain for those addicted to the board, bike, and beyond.

Zero Gravity Skatepark
5341 Maywood Road
Mounds, MN 55364
(952) 472-0613
www.cityofmound.com

Sometimes less is more, and with this park the price is right: Free. Zero Gravity delivers just the concrete basics, literally and figuratively. Zero Gravity is the perfect starter park to work on the fundamentals. A wooded backdrop is also ideal for the amateur or auteur videographers.

Tri City Skatepark
7355 York Ave. S.
Edina, MN 55424
www.facebook.com

Grinders of Edina, Richfield, and Bloomington rejoiced with the birth of this all concrete gem. Aging skater punks have been known to frequent this spot, not surprisingly with its affluent locale. Grups can ditch the family or take them with and show off a worry-free acid drop.

Bemidji Skate Park
1224 23rd St. N.W.
Bemidji, MN 56601
www.ci.bemidji.mn.us

For the discerning half pipe aficionado of the north, Bamidji's Skate Park will not disappoint. The design of this pseudo-street course integrates the rest of the park area for spectators and participants with shaded areas and skatable entry sign.

Erik Ritter has a masters of fine arts from the San Francisco Art Institute and regularly shows his assemblage artwork throughout the Midwest. The South Dakota Art Museum purchased his piece "Bird of Time" for their permanent collection. He facilitates "DeJunked Art" workshops at various locations. He lives in Osseo, Minnesota.