Birmingham, Alabama is known for its role in the history of manufacturing as well as the city’s excellent food. However, this southern city has gradually become known for its thriving extreme sports community. City Walk Skatepark may be new, but it’s one of the biggest and best skateparks in the United States.
Spanning 57,000 square feet, City Walk Skatepark is the fifth-largest skatepark in the country. It features three impressive bowls: a deep pool-style bowl, a flow bowl, and a small bowl for beginners. The park also has a huge street course section that includes ledges, rails, flat bars, banks, and stairs. Scooters, skateboards, rollerblades, and bikes are allowed at City Walk Skatepark.
The park is still quite new as it opened in June 2022, but it’s already made a huge impact in the skateboarding community. Follow along as we explore what makes City Walk Skatepark stand out as one of the best skateparks in the world.
Quick Skatepark Details
| Address | 1706 9th Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203 |
| Location | Birmingham, Alabama |
| Park Hours | 12:00 PM- 10:00 PM (Mon-Fri) 9:00 AM- 10:00 PM (Satu-Sun) |
| Park Lights | Yes |
| Admission Fee | Free |
| Park Supervised | Yes |
| Phone | (205) 458-8216 |
| Park Opened | June 2022 |
| Helmets & Safety Gear | Required |
| Riding Devices Allowed | Skateboards, BMX, In-Line Skates, Scooters |
| Riding Devices Not Allowed | Motorized Devices & Vehicles |
| Skatepark Builder | Newline Skateparks |
| Skatepark Material | Concrete, Metal Rails |
| Size | 57,000 Square Feet |
| Skatepark Website Information | https://citywalkbham.com/skate-park/ |
Where Is City Walk Skatepark?
Birmingham, Alabama is home to City Walk Skatepark. The biggest skatepark in the state, City Walk Skatepark is a staple of the central Alabama skateboarding scene.
City Walk Skatepark Address: 1706 9th Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Do You Have to Pay to Get Into City Walk Skatepark?
You don’t have to pay to get into City Walk Skatepark. The park is free, but you must check in each time you visit so they can verify and keep track of everyone there. This also helps them make sure you’ve signed the one-time waiver required to get in.
What Are the Hours at City Walk Skatepark?
City Walk Skatepark is open from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM on Monday through Friday. The park opens at 9:00 AM and closes at 10:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Check the weather before you head out as City Walk Skatepark closes due to poor weather, such as rain and snow.
How Do You Get Into the Park?
It’s easy to get into City Walk Skatepark if you park on 9th Street and its cross streets. On busy days, you may struggle to find street parking as there isn’t an official lot at this time. First-time visitors will have to fill out a waiver before they can get into the park.
City Walk Skatepark encourages first-time visitors to fill out the waiver online. This will help you get into the park much faster, and you will only need to do it the first time you visit the park. Every visitor must check in when they get there, and this process is quick once you’ve signed the waiver.
City Walk Skatepark Rundown
City Walk Skatepark is instantly recognizable for the large flow bowl. One of three bowls, the flow bowl includes banks and a volcano that any transition skater or rider will love. There is also a nice beginner bowl and a slightly bigger pool-style bowl.
The street course section is just as impressive and features many ledges, rails, flat bars, and banks. You will struggle to find a skatepark with as many types of ledges as City Walk Skatepark. This section’s layout is quite open, and it’s the perfect spot to plan a line of flip tricks building up to a grind.
What Material Is the Park Made of?
Almost everything at City Walk Skatepark is made of concrete. The rails are made of metal, and the pool-style bowl features tile trim along the coping.
How Busy Does It Get?
City Walk Skatepark gets quite busy, but it’s big enough that it rarely feels overcrowded. Birmingham is home to over 197,000 residents, and the city has a strong skateboarding community. Skaters and BMX riders from surrounding suburbs also flock to the park, and it is consistently busy.
Is City Walk Skatepark Beginner-Friendly?
Beginners can fit in at City Walk Skatepark because there is plenty of space to practice stance, rolling, and flip tricks. The street course has room for beginners to work their way up to jumping stairs and grinding rails at their own pace. City Walk Skatepark also has a beginner bowl that is much smaller and easier to skate than the other two.
Are Helmets Required?
Helmets are required at City Walk Skatepark. You must also wear knee and elbow pads at the park, and they strictly enforce the rule.
Does City Walk Skatepark Have Lights?
There are several lights alongside the underside of the bridge at City Walk Skatepark. The lights illuminate the large flow bowl, street section, and most of the obstacles in the park.
Do They Have Rental Equipment?
City Walk Skatepark doesn’t have rental equipment. However, there are several great skate shops near the park in Birmingham, such as Riderz, Faith Skate Supply, and The Mosh Pit.
Can You Ride BMX at City Walk Skatepark?
BMX riders are welcome at City Walk Skatepark, and they make up a big chunk of the park’s visitors. The flow bowl is the most popular obstacle among BMX riders.
Can You Ride a Scooter at City Walk Skatepark?
If it isn’t motorized, you can ride a scooter at City Walk Skatepark. Motorized scooters, bikes, and skateboards aren’t allowed at the park.
Can You Ride Rollerblades at City Walk Skatepark?
Rollerblades, quad skates, and in-line skates are all allowed at City Walk Skatepark. The pump track, street course section, and quarter pipes are perfect for rollerblades and skates.
Can You Ride a Longboard at City Walk Skatepark?
You can ride a longboard at City Walk Skateaprk, but not all obstacles are ideal for them. For example, you will struggle to ride a longboard in either of the two bowls or on the pump track. Luckily, there is plenty of flat ground at City Walk Skatepark that you can cruise and perform tricks on.
Is There Wi-Fi at the Park?
There is no public Wi-Fi at City Walk Skatepark. However, you shouldn’t have a problem with cellular data in the area. City Walk Skatepark is near many restaurants and businesses that have public Wi-Fi.
Is City Walk Skatepark Safe?
City Walk Skatepark is mostly safe because of the supervision and safety gear requirements. The park’s banks, bowls, and volcano are the most dangerous obstacles. You won’t find as many dangerous obstacles in the street course section, but it’s important to be realistic about your skill level before trying something new.
While the park is mostly safe, you must consider the surrounding area and the time you visit City Walk Skatepark. The skatepark’s location isn’t too bad, but the surrounding city is considered dangerous.
Unfortunately, Birmingham, Alabama has one of the highest crime rates in the United States. Most of the crime occurs in the city’s center as well as in the southern part of Birmingham. With such a high crime rate, it’s worthwhile to exercise caution when you visit at night.
The History of City Walk Skatepark
City Walk Skatepark is part of the larger City Walk project in Birmingham that dates to 2018. The city planned to build a large recreational area with many amenities for the local community. One such amenity was a skatepark, it took several years for the plan to come to fruition.
They hired Newline Skateparks to design and build the skatepark. Birmingham city officials approved a budget of $3 million; the high cost is reflected in the final product. City Walk Skatepark finally opened in June 2022 and has been full of skaters, rollerbladers, and BMX riders ever since.
Nick Durante is a professional writer that primarily focused on action sports. Skateboarding and Longboarding are his particular areas of expertise. When he isn’t writing about action sports, he is catching up on the world of skateboarding and spending time outside.