Brandon Skate Park Grand Opening Set for Saturday

News Report

The grand opening ceremony for the newly opened Brandon Skate Park in Providence Park East has been scheduled for May 12, with a ribbon-cutting at 1 p.m. and skateboarding demonstrations to follow.

Hillsborough County Park, Recreation and Conservation officials had previously set an April 21 grand opening date, but those plans were changed due to inclement weather.

The Brandon Skate Park is the first skate park built with local tax dollars.

Entry to the park is free throughtout the summer. All skaters must wear helmets and sign a waiver. Brandon Skate Park regulations and the waiver are available online.

The hours of operation are Tuesday through Friday, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, from 10 a.m to 10 p.m. (with 10 a.m. to noon reserved for skaters under age 12); and Sunday, from noon to 8 p.m. The park is closed on Mondays.

The 11,000-square-foot park was funded with impact fees and general revenue dollars. Team Pain, a company owned that has been creating custom skate parks for 30 years, worked under Hennessy Construction Services Corp. to develop the park. Team Pain has built skate parks in Florida in Apollo Beach, Tampa, Dunedin, Sarasota, New Tampa, Inglewood and Naples.

The Brandon Skate Park is the first skate park built with taxpayers' dollars.

According to county officials, the park at 5720 Providence Rd., Riverview, cost $499,501.

Included in the course are radius ramps, stairs, rails, ledges, banks and pool coping -- the concrete material used to cap the bowl shell wall.

• Entrance to the park will be free throughout the summer.
• After that, the skate fee is $4 per day. The cost for an annual pass is $150.
• Hillsborough County has a reciprocal agreement with the City of Tampa. Annual passes will be honored at all Hillsborough County and City of Tampa skate parks.
• All skaters must wear helmets and complete a waiver.