The Story of Jamestown, NY
From an indoor skatepark to outside. Jamestown's history in skateparks.
We hope this newsletter finds you well. February is a great time to enjoy the indoor Jungle Skatepark and get ready for the spring season at Powerhouse Skatepark. First, Jamestown skaters we would like to remind everyone about the upcoming Spring Cleanup event on March 20th from 10 AM to 2 PM. The Powerhouse Skatepark is located at 117 Fairmount Avenue. Fun fact: The site is named in memory of the City’s trolley system power station, which operated in the area from 1891 to 1938.
The story of Jamestown, New York skateparks began in the early 2000s when a group of local skateboarders came together to advocate for a place where they could safely practice their sport. Despite facing numerous obstacles and challenges, this dedicated group refused to give up on their dream.
Jamestown Skate Products.
Through tireless efforts and persistence, they were able to secure funding and support from the city, and in 2011, the Jungle Skate Park officially opened its doors. The park quickly became a hub for the local skateboarding community, providing an environment for skaters of all ages and skill levels to come together. Over the years, the park has undergone several upgrades and renovations.
Despite the changing times and trends in skateboarding, the indoor skatepark remains a beloved and cherished part of the community.
Grindline crew member Anthony Ferrari. Pictures from Jamestown Skate Products.
Plans for Jamestown, NY outdoor skatepark starts to take shape.
Because of Covid the two public input meetings were conducted via zoom. Grindline worked with the public for input to produce a design with a mix of both transition and street features during November 2020. Many aspects of the design were also highly influenced based on the uniqueness of the site. With large concrete pillars and foundations from the structure that was there prior, these pieces were immovable and had to be incorporated into the design.
The Grindline crew workers broke ground on Powerhouse Skatepark in early May of 2021 on the 10,000 square foot project. Supplementing grants from the City and other sources were matched by The Skatepark Project formerly known as the Tony Hawk Foundation as well. The implementation of the crescent wrench was a way to pay homage to Jamestown being the birthplace of this invention. The name Powerhouse Skatepark has been bringing people from all over to come test it out and see the magnitude of the wrench extension!
Grindline crew member Anthony Ferrari. Photos taken by Casey Haley.
Video provided by Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth.
Today, skating in Jamestown is flourishing with the addition of the new Powerhouse Skatepark. The space has become a beloved landmark in the city and a source of pride for the local skateboarding community!
"The Jamestown, NY Powerhouse Skatepark is a flagship skatepark in the Built to Play portfolio. The project was inspired by Jamestown's effort to build a permanent skatepark, which began with the first contact from local advocates. Led by super-advocate Pete Scheira, the skatepark development process was a dream collaboration between community advocates and city officials. In partnership with the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, The Skatepark Project provided $300,000 toward a project that was initially budgeted at about $500,000. Inspired by the Built to Play Skatepark Grant and tenacious community skatepark advocates, city staff and elected officials sought out additional funding, resulting in a bigger and better skatepark than originally planned. Over a million dollars was spent to create a 14,000 square foot skatepark, which has already proven to be a regional and national draw. The Skatepark Project is proud to have been a part of the Jamestown Powerhouse Skatepark effort, as well as the dozen or more other Built to Play skateparks throughout Western NY."

Trevor Staples
(He/Him/His)
 
Built to Play Skatepark Manager
M: (734) 223-9837

Planning a new park? To get additional information about Grindline, including multiple examples of our past projects with size and budget data that will prove helpful as you think through the terrain and scale of the park you need, click here.
Grindline Skateparks is a full-service firm specializing in the planning, design, construction, and programming of custom concrete skateparks. Founded in 1990 by skateboarding legend Mark "Monk" Hubbard, the Grindline team has designed, sculpted, and skated millions of tons of concrete across the United States and around the world.