FDR Skatepark
FDR Skatepark is like nowhere else on earth. Where else can you build something yourself, tie a couple of bottle rockets to your skateboard, and light up the night testing it out with a few friends? Thousands visit every year, and hundreds work to maintain it and keep adding new challenges to its landscape.
If you want to learn how to build concrete skateparks – bring a shovel and a strong back and ask how you can help. Volunteers are always welcome.
Location: Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park, Philadelphia (below I-95)
Grays Ferry Crescent Skatepark
Franklin’s Paine Skatepark Fund, in partnership with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Olitsky Family Foundation, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department, Schuylkill River Development Corporation, Fifth Pocket, Cawley Masonry and the Grays Ferry Community Council, has developed a new skatable public space along the Grays Ferry Crescent and greenway. This 3,000 square foot park features a central catfish obstacle inspired by our Skateble City Initiative work with the Knight Foundation in partnership with Jesse Clayton and Jesse Pham.
Paine’s Park
After many years of advocacy, fundraising and project development, Paine’s Park officially opened to the public on May 22nd, 2013. The ribbon cutting event featured pro skater demos by Chris Cole, Tom Asta and Kerry Getz, as well as remarks from the FPSF team, Mayor Nutter, Governor Rendell, Deputy Mayor Michael DiBerardinis, CouncilPresident Darrell Clarke and State Rep Brian Sims. Famed anthom singer Lauren Hart sang the National Anthem to usher in ribbon cutting and DJ Gregg Nyce played the event.
Ambler Skatepark
Franklin’s Paine and Fifth Pocket were brought to the table by the The Borough of Ambler to discuss the development of a skatepark within Knight Park located on the corner of South Main Street and Bannockburn Ave in Ambler, PA.
On September 21st, 2010, Ambler Borough City Council voted to move forward with the proposed design for the space developed by Jesse Clayton of Fifth Pocket, Inc.
Patrick Kerr Memorial Skatepark (Roslyn)
Local skateboarders and parents worked with the Abington Township Parks & Recreation Department to build a public skatepark at Roslyn Park. FPSF donated $5K in 2001 from donations raised during the 2000 & 2001 X Games in Philadelphia. The project was renamed Patrick Kerr Memorial Skatepark in 2003 after the tragic death of the leading advocate for the project from the local skateboarding community. The final design is a breathtaking combination of street and transition elements created with a generous DIY spirit and unquestionable professional skill.
Pop’s Skatepark
The idea for a skatepark on this site started in the minds of Laura Semmelroth, Tom Potts, and several other members of the Friends of Pop’s, a community group leading the charge of rehabilitating Pop’s Playground, located at Trenton Avenue and E. Hazzard Street in the East Kensington section of Philadelphia.
McCreesh Playground
McCreesh Playground, located at 6744 Regent Street in the Mount Moriah District of Southwest Philadelphia, contains an old roller hockey rink that is no longer being used as intended. In fact, local skaters, neighbors, and concerned parents approached McCreesh Recreation Supervisor, Tim King in early 2010, about the possibility of turning the space into a skatepark.
Whitehall Skatepark
After months of preparation and 3 weeks of construction in the summer heat wave of 2010, Jesse Clayton of Fifth Pocket, Inc., and FPSF completed the first phase of rehabilitation at Whitehall skatepark in the Frankford section of Northeast Philadelphia, located at the corner of Torresdale Avenue and Wakeling Street.
Included in this first phase of construction was the installation of a 45’ long half pyramid with step-ups and hubbas down each side, in addition to two new ledges. The existing steel quarter pipes were also tack welded.