Crooked River Skatepark

The Crooked River Skatepark started life as the Northcoast Harbor Skatepark by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In April 2004, it was opened as a temporary skatepark created after the 2003 Gravity Games brought so much attention to the downtown area. The ramps were steel pre-fabricated ramps purchased at a discount from a vendor at the Gravity Games. This was the first time Cleveland had a public skatepark and was removed in 2009 once the ramps had outlived their usefulness.

In 2009, Mayor Jackson’s administration began a comprehensive plan for developing the riverfront along the Cuyahoga River. This initiative included housing, business and recreation in the Flats region along the banks of the river. A new location for the skatepark was designated in late 2009 and Public Square Group was contacted to help coordinate public input on the new location as well as a much larger construction budget for a design/build custom concrete skatepark.

LAND Studio was contracted to lead exploratory public meetings with the community along with Ohio City Incorporated. LAND Studio contracted world renown skatepark design firm Grindline Skateparks from Seattle to create conceptual designs and PSG began promoting and facilitating the skater community input.

A 22,000 sq foot parcel of city-owned land along the river off Columbus Road was the designated location. The land connected with a larger area owned and operated by the Cleveland Rowing Foundation in a region now becoming known as Rivergate Park.

The first rounds of conceptual designs supported the public’s interest in a world class transition focused skatepark that would meet the city’s budget of $758,000 with appropriate landscaping and public art. Extra funding and a great boost in public awareness came when the Tony Hawk Foundation awarded Public Square Group the maximum grant level available with a donation of $25,000 towards the project in 2011.

Timeline

9/29/12 September

Press Release: City Awards Design/Build Contract To Grindline

The City of Cleveland awarded a design/build contract to Grindline Skateparks, Inc. of Seattle, Washington to construct the new Cleveland Flats Skatepark.
9/29/12 September

Cleveland Contracts Designer, Builder For New Skatepark In The Flats

On Friday, the city awarded a contract to Seattle-based Gridline Skateparks tol oversee the design and construction of a 15,000-square-foot skater's wonderland along the Cuyahoga River.
9/29/12 September

Cleveland To Build Skate Park In The Flats

The city has awarded the design and build contract to the Seattle-based Grindline Skateparks, Inc. Cleveland Councilman Joe Cimperman said the city sees the skate park as a major part in the re-birth of the waterfront.
5/10/12 May

Putting The 'Metro' In Metroparks: Expansion Follows Population Back To City Center

Now Metroparks is bringing that expertise into downtown Cleveland. The organization, which oversees more than 21,000 acres throughout Cuyahoga County, has reached a deal to purchase 2.8 acres at Rivergate Park on the east bank of the Cuyahoga River in the Flats.
5/16/11 May

Cleveland Rolling Ahead With Flats Skate Park

City Council voted Monday night to issue bonds for various improvements, including the $550,000 skate park. Despite whispers of a revolt among lawmakers upset by the proposed cutbacks, only Councilman Jeff Johnson opposed the measure.
4/15/11 April

Tony Hawk Foundation Awards $25,000 To Cleveland Skateboard Park In The Flats

A California foundation launched by famed skateboarder Tony Hawk is sending $25,000 to the Flats. The grant marks the first big private investment in a planned skateboarding park on the Columbus Road Peninsula.
2/15/11 February

Plain Dealer Editorial: A New Skatepark By The Cuyahoga? Cool!

On first glance, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson's plan to use $550,000 from the city's 2011 capital improvements budget to build a state-of-the-art skatepark along the east bank of the Cuyahoga River may seem out of character.
2/1/11 February

Planned Skateboard Park In Cleveland Could Have Big Impact As Part Of Recreation Hub In The Flats

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Cabbage lentil cucumber chickpea sorrel gram garbanzo plantain lotus root bok choy squash cress potato.
1/1/11 January

Projects Along The Cuyahoga River, In Downtown Cleveland Present Opportunities For The Flats

CLEVELAND -- A longtime industrial corridor and onetime entertainment district, Cleveland's Flats could be repopulated with entrepreneurs, residents, cyclists, gamblers, rowers and aquarium-goers during the next decade.
4/1/10 April

City Of Cleveland Closes Skate Park At North Coast Harbor, But Considers New Park In The Flats

A bicyclist grabs some air at the city of Cleveland's skate park at North Coast Harbor.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The city of Cleveland plans to build a new skate park along the west bank of the Cuyahoga River in the Flats after closing its current park at North Coast Harbor.