There are various skate parks throughout the United States and Canada, each designed similarly but differently and offering potentially unique skating experiences. You can prepare to visit a skate park at home or away by remembering to first check a few details.
First, determine whether you are going to visit a skate park that was built for vertical skating, street skating, or both. If you are planning to skate vertical, or vert, you should probably bring along some protective headgear and pads. In fact, you may be required to depending on the park. Many parks do not require any protective gear, but a few may require helmets. Even if you're going to visit a skate park only for street skating, you need to be sure to have whatever is required - so check first. The type of skating you can do at the park doesn't only determine what protective gear you need, but also what type of board you should bring along when you visit a skate park.
If you are going to visit a skate park in or near your hometown, it should be easier to find out much of the necessary information ahead of time. Research the park’s hours of operation, whether it’s indoors or out, and what facilities and accommodations are included. Many skate parks are combined with city parks or recreation centers, like the DC Skate Plaza in Kettering, Ohio, and are operated and maintained by city government. You can call the respective city and ask basic questions.
Should you decide to visit a skate park out of town, make sure to check area lodging or camping grounds. You might want to take along not only protective gear, but also extra boards in case one breaks. Also, be sure to bring your video camera to document the experience. Once you arrive, the locals will be able to tell you where the best skate shops are and whether there are any other nearby attractions for skaters. Information on many skate parks throughout the country can be found online with a simple search for “skate parks”.