Florida is home to no shortage of great skateparks, such as Kona Skatepark and Lot 11 Skatepark. However, it’s in Tampa that you will find the most exciting skatepark in the state. Skatepark of Tampa is a world-renowned skatepark that has garnered plenty of attention for its design and annual contests.
Spanning 18,000 square feet of concrete surfaces, wooden ramps, and metal rails, Skatepark of Tampa is one of Florida’s best skateparks. The Tampa Pro and Tampa Am contests they host each year have kept the park relevant in the skateboarding world for 30 years. Skateboards, scooters, and rollerblades are welcome at the park, but BMX bikes are only allowed on certain days.
Lil Wayne bought the park in 2012 making headlines and drawing more attention to it. Follow along as we take a deep dive into Skatepark of Tampa and explore why it has remained so iconic for all these years.
Quick Skatepark Details
| Address | 4215 E Columbus Dr, Tampa, FL 33605 |
| Location | Tampa, Florida |
| Park Hours | 9:00 AM-8:00 PM (Mon-Fri) 10:00 AM- 8:00 PM (Sat-Sun) |
| Park Lights | Yes |
| Admission Fees | $8 (Mon-Thurs) $10 (Fri-Sun) |
| Park Supervised | Yes |
| Phone | (813) 621-6793 |
| Park Opened | January 1993 |
| Helmets & Safety Gear | Helmets: Required for Non-Skaters, Pads: Recommended |
| Riding Devices Allowed | Scooters, BMX (Select Days, Rollerblades, Skateboards |
| Riding Devices Not Allowed | Motorized Devices & Vehicles |
| Skatepark Material | Wood, Concrete, Metal Rails |
| Size | 18,000 Square Feet |
| Skatepark Website Information | https://skateparkoftampa.com/spot/ |
Where Is Skatepark of Tampa?
Skatepark of Tampa is in south Tampa, Florida. It is not far from the famous Palmetto Beach.
Skatepark of Tampa Address: 4215 E Columbus Dr, Tampa, FL 33605
Do You Have to Pay to Get Into Skatepark of Tampa?
It costs $8 to get into Skatepark of Tampa from Monday through Thursday. The admission fee is $10 on Friday through Sunday. You can get discounted rates if you are a Skatepark of Tampa member. Annual membership costs $40 per year and lets you skate for free on Mondays. You also get in every other day of the week for half the typical price if you are a member.
What Are The Hours at Skatepark of Tampa?
Skatepark of Tampa is open from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM from Monday through Friday. On the weekend, the park is open from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. However, the park is reserved for skaters aged 12 or under from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM on the weekends. After that, the skatepark opens up to skaters of any age.
How Do You Get Into the Park?
You can easily get into Skatepark of Tampa once you park in the lot. Once you get in, you must visit the shop and pay the admission fee for your skate session. From there, you are free to shred at the park.
Skatepark of Tampa Rundown
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Skatepark of Tampa consists of both indoor and outdoor obstacles. The indoor section features a street course with rails, wooden ramps, ledges, and quarter pipes. You can find a massive wooden ramp outside, as well as several skateable benches and ledges.
The unique thing about Skatepark of Tampa is that it constantly changes. They consistently redesign the street course each year. This is because of their contests, but it helps keep the park fresh for frequent visitors.
What Material Is the Park Made of?
Skatepark of Tampa features many concrete surfaces as well as several wooden ramps. There are also several metal rails at the park. The flat ground sections indoors are made of concrete, but the ramps are all made of wood.
How Busy Does It Get?
Skatepark of Tampa gets quite busy, especially on the weekends. Tampa is home to over 387,000 people, and the city has a vibrant skateboarding culture. Skaters from surrounding cities like Winter Haven, Bartow, and Polk City also visit Skatepark of Tampa.
Is Skatepark of Tampa Beginner-Friendly?
The Skatepark of Tampa is a beginner-friendly park. They especially cater to young skaters on the weekend when the first two hours of the day only welcome skaters under the age of 12. No matter what age you are, the park has plenty of beginner-friendly obstacles, especially in the street course section.
Are Helmets Required?
Helmets are required for non-skateboarders (BMX, rollerbladers, and scooter riders). Pads aren’t required at Skatepark of Tampa, but they are strongly encouraged. I recommend wearing a helmet and pads if you plan to shred the ramps and street course because falls are common.
Does Skatepark of Tampa Have Lights?
The Skatepark of Tampa has many lights and the park is well-lit. While the park closes at 8:00 PM before it gets too dark, you won’t struggle to see when the sun sets.
Do They Have Rental Equipment?
You can rent a skateboard at Skatepark of Tampa if you don’t have one readily available. This is a common practice for out-of-town travelers looking to visit the iconic skatepark. It costs $9.30 to rent a skateboard for the day at Skatepark of Tampa.
The park also has an extensive shop that sells decks, trucks, wheels, bearings, and complete skateboards. They also sell helmets, pads, and skater apparel, so it’s the perfect one-stop-shop for any skateboarder,
Can You Ride BMX at Skatepark of Tampa?
You can ride BMX at the Skatepark of Tampa, but only on certain days. The days vary based on the event schedule at the park, so you must check their website to make sure they are welcome on that day. They also limit BMX riders to a designated window of time on days that they are allowed to shred the park.
Can You Ride a Scooter at Skatepark of Tampa?
Scooters are allowed at the Skatepark of Tampa, and they are welcome every day. Many of the elements at the park are perfect for scooters.
Can You Ride Rollerblades at Skatepark of Tampa?
You can ride rollerblades at the Skatepark of Tampa, and there is no limit to what obstacles you can shred with them. Rollerblades work well with the ramps, transition obstacles, and street course sections at Skatepark of Tampa.
Can You Ride a Longboard at Skatepark of Tampa?
While you can ride a longboard at Skatepark of Tampa, you will be limited in what you can do. Skatepark of Tampa is mostly focused on ramps and street course obstacles that don’t work well with longboards. However, there is plenty of flat ground that is good for cruising on a longboard, but you won’t be able to shred most of the obstacles.
Is There Wi-Fi at the Park?
Skatepark of Tampa does have Wi-Fi. However, you can only typically access the Wi-Fi from the on-site shop. Otherwise, the area has strong cellular service so you shouldn’t struggle to use your cellular data.
Does Skatepark of Tampa Have Contests?
The Skatepark of Tampa is most well known for its two major contests: the Tampa Pro and Tampa Am. Many of the world’s best professional skateboarders have participated in the Tampa Pro. The Tampa Am contest is unique in that only amateurs are allowed to participate.
This contest gives amateurs the chance to pick up sponsors and start their journey to eventually become a professional. They also host smaller contests, such as the Back to School Bash and Harvest Jam.
The History of Skatepark of Tampa
Skatepark of Tampa was first built in late 1992. The park was finished in December of that year, but it didn’t open until January 1993. It quickly became not only a local favorite but one of the most popular skateparks in the United States. They started hosting their annual Tampa Pro contest in 1995 and have kept it going since then.
Rapper Lil Wayne made the headlines in 2012 when he bought Skatepark of Tampa after immersing himself in the culture of skateboarding.
Read our related post “12 Best Skateparks in Miami” here.
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.