With the Blake Doyle Community Skatepark set to open to the public on May 2, the City of Pensacola encourages skatepark users to review the park rules before enjoying this exciting new public amenity.
The skatepark will open to the public immediately following a ribbon cutting event on Tuesday, May 2 at 3 p.m. Following the ribbon cutting event, the Blake Doyle Community Skatepark will be open daily from dawn until dusk.
The skatepark rules include the following:
- For your safety: Wear a helmet with securely fastened chinstrap, elbow pads, kneepads, wrist guards and closed toe shoes.
- Only skateboards and inline skates are allowed. No bicycles or motorized vehicles.
- Adult supervision required for minors.
- Use of the skatepark outside of posted hours is strictly prohibited (the skatepark will be open daily from dawn until dusk).
- Click here to review all rules for the Blake Doyle Community Skatepark.
The Blake Doyle Community Skatepark is located under Interstate 110 along North Hayne Street, between Jackson Street and La Rua Street.
The skatepark features approximately 25,000 square feet of skateable surface area for skaters of all ages and skill levels. The skatepark also includes a beginner area, multilevel skate plaza, and two skate bowls, along with an additional 5,700 square feet of surrounding sidewalk and gathering areas.
The skatepark is part of the overall transformation of Hollice T. Williams Park through a joint project with the City of Pensacola and Escambia County, which will ultimately create a place for community members of all ages to connect and enjoy activities in the heart of the city. The park will also serve to improve water quality and reduce stormwater in the area.
For more information about the Blake Doyle Community Skatepark, visit the City of Pensacola website.
The “Skateboard Rules” list #1 to #11. If it is a legal requirement to use safety equipment, other than a polite advisory notice, shouldn’t there be 12 rules with that one #1? Under city law, the City Council has given the Parks & Recreation Director (not the Mayor, City Administrator or Deputy City Administrator) his own authority to adopt park rules and regulations that have the force of city ordinances. The penalty for violating the Skatepark Rules is a fine of up to $500, up to 60 days in jail, or both. Might want to either add that to the sign or rethink the penalty scheme. Seems pretty harsh. We all know that people “will” use the skatepark 24/7 to include during bad weather. I would have when I was a skateboarder in the 1970s. Who will enforce the city’s rules? Will there be a surveillance camera with a feed monitored by PPD? Will the city pay to have someone on-site if only “dawn to dusk?” What do they do at other skateparks in Florida? Is someone going to ensure that parents/guardians supervisor their minor children? How will that work? State law very clearly requires the city to have a written waiver from the parents/guardians of children under the age of 17 before they can skate. How will that work to include where are the forms and how will the city ensure the kids don’t forge their parents’ signature? Has anyone actually read the state law (Section 316.0085). The city’s immunity is not absolute. There’s a carve out for “gross negligence” on the part of the city. Also, if as Mayor Reeves says, people are going to ride from the skatepark to go downtown to eat, and get liquored up too, shouldn’t there be a city law requiring that all skateboarders, inline skaters and quad-roller skaters too wear safety gear when using city sidewalks? That last concern screams out for the council to adopt it as an emergency ordinance.
As a quad roller skater, I am offended by the exclusion. I can do anything inline skates can do and more. Then again, I can quad skate on Bayview’s tennis courts because only inline skate and boards are banned there!
Glad we have Dreamland.