Oviedo, FL
Riverside Skatepark
"Rippin'
Riverside Skatepark" is the official name of Oviedo's new 30,000+ sq
ft skatepark. Oviedo, a well to do suburb of Orlando used some type of proposition
(taxes) to pay for the park. Tim Payne (Team Pain) who designed and constructed
the park was told throughout the construction phase that the park would be
free to use. Tim was pissed when he showed up on the grand opening to find
out that locals were being charged $6.00 and out of towners charged $12.00
to skate! I asked the gate keeper about the high admission price for out of
town skaters, she said that the local folks want some return on their investment.
What a load of bull! The local folks of Oviedo will never see any money generated
from the skatepark. Should you pay $12.00 to skate this park? Considering
how much Vans cost if you are not a member, it is cheaper to skate Oviedo
than Vans. Oviedo is better than the Orlando Vans too, but the Orlando Festival
Bay Park is only $6.00 for everyone to skate! Tough call... Oviedo is a incredible
skatepark, but the $12.00 admission is a slap in the face for the visiting
skater.
With that said...
Rippin' Riverside does that... It rips! I had a blast skating it. The street
area is complete with rails, stairs, granite benches and table tops, manual
pads and gaps galore! Tim installed a burly pool, with tile and pool coping.
The shallow is steep, like a real pool and the deep end has a deathbox.
The flowing bowl/transition area offers great speed lines. Some sections has
pool coping installed. Depth of the runs varies from 4' to 9'. Roll-in points
are placed throughout the area. The layout offers endless lines. Tim Payne,
you rule!
M-F: 11:00am-2:00pm, 2:30pm-6:00pm, 6:30pm-10:00 pm
Sat: 10:00am-1:00pm (beginners), 1:30pm-5:30pm, 6:00pm-10:00pm
Sun: 10:00am-2:00pm, 2:30pm-6:30pm
Helmets are
required. Sessions are $12 for non-resident, non-members.
Skateboards and in-lines only.
Riverside Skate Park
1608 Lockwood Blvd
Oviedo, Florida
407-977-6081
How to get there...
Traffic in Orlando is awful. Taking the toll road will add some $ to the overall
session price, but you will encounter less traffic. Take the toll road SR-417
towards Sanford. Exit at Red Bug Lake Rd and turn right. Red Bug Lake Rd will
turn into East Mitchell Hammock Road. You will travel about 3 miles. Keep
driving east until you see Lockwood Blvd and turn right. Go about 1/2 mile
and you will see Riverside Park on the right. Go past the tennis courts and
pool. The skatepark is the last entrance on the right.
Check out these
videos from the Oviedo park. #1
(4.6 mb) #2
(1.95 mb)







The man himself, Tim Payne!
