Brook Run opens, now largest skate park in Ga.

The AJC Published on: 07/27/07
By MARCUS K. GARNER

At 27,000 square feet, Brook Run Skate Park is expected to open Saturday in Dunwoody as the largest public facility of its kind in Georgia. (The Factory Skatepark in Newnan, and Woodward Skate Park at Discover Mill in Gwinnett, are privately owned operations with more than 34,000 square feet each.)

Brook Run, is unique among Georgia's public skate parks because users must pay a fee, wear a helmet and sign a liability waiver.

Here is a comparison of some public skate parks around Metro Atlanta:

Brook Run Skate Park
4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody
Operated by: DeKalb County Parks & Recreation
Helmets / pads: Required / recommended
Fee: Daily — Youth: $3 (DeKalb Resident), $5 (non-resident); Adult: $4 (resident), $6 (non-resident)
Hours: May-August: 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday; Noon-10:30 p.m. Sunday; September-April: 3-10 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Saturday; Noon-10:30 p.m. Sunday
Lights / music provided: Yes / Yes
Bikes: BMX bikes allowed (without pegs).
Liability waiver: Required (those under 18 must have parent or guardian sign, too).
Size: 27,000 square feet.
Features: 12-foot "pool" area, streetscape area with steps, grind rails, ramps and boxes, "flow bowl" area with concaved clamshell feature

Skatepark of Athens
4440 Lexington Road, Athens
Operated by: Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services
Helmets / pads: Required / recommended
Fee: No
Hours: Sun-up to sundown
Lights / music provided: No / No
Bikes: BMX bikes allowed (without pegs), rollerblades allowed
Liability waiver: No
Size: 14,000 square feet
Features: Streetscape with steps, ramps, grinding edges and rails, and a 4,500 square foot flow bowl

McKoy Park
534 McKoy Street, Decatur
Operated by: City of Decatur Recreation and Community Services
Helmets/pads: Recommended
Fee: No
Hours: 7 a.m. — dusk
Lights / music provided: Yes / no
Bikes: No
Liability waiver: No
Size: 4,750 square feet
Features: old tennis court with metal 5 ramps donated; 2 spines, a pyramid, a grind rail and grind box, 1 breaker

Pinkneyville Park
4758 South Old Peachtree Road, Norcross
Operated by: Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation
Helmets/pads: Recommended
Fee: NoHours: Sun-up — 11 p.m.
Lights / music provided: Yes / No
Bikes: No
Liability waiver: No
Size: 9,500 square feet
Features: 2 connected bowls, a plaza/streetscape with grinding rails, and a box ramp in the center of the park

Ronald Reagan Park
2777 Five Forks Trickum Road, Lawrenceville
Operated by: Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation
Helmets/pads: Recommended
Fee: No
Hours: Sun-up — sunset
Lights / music provided: No / No
Bikes: No
Liability waiver: No
Size: 4,500 square feet
Features: Plaza/streetscape with grinding rails, and a box ramp in the center of the park

DeShong Park (opens Aug. 11)
2859 North DeShong Road, Stone Mountain
Operated by: Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation
Helmets/pads: Recommended
Fee: No
Hours: Sun-up to sunset
Lights / music provided: No / No
Bikes: No
Waiver: No
Size: 10,000 square feet
Features: Streetscape with stairs and grinding rails

Mountain Park Park (opens end of summer 2007)
5050 Five Forks Trickum Road, Lilburn
Jurisdiction: Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation
Helmets/pads: Recommended
Fee: No
Hours: Sun-up to sunset
Lights / music provided: No / No
Bikes: No
Waiver: No
Size: 8,500 square feet
Features: 10-foot deep bowl, 6-foot half pipe, 6-foot volcano ramp