Catoctin Skatepark - Leesburg, Virginia, U.S.A.

Its a 12,000 square foot lighted skating area built on an old double tennis court. Its being expanded next year to include a concrete section and possibly a dirt section for BMXers. As it stands, its an asphalt surface with skatelite quarter pipes, launch & land ramps, fun boxes, a couple of rails, two mini halfpipes forming a spine, and a 6ft half pipe with a 7ft extension, plus a couple of other structures.

The park is supervised, and they require helmets (though they have been known to let the more advanced, adult visitors slide on that.) Those little metal scooter things that kids like to ride aren't allowed, but they never say anything as long as you are not causing problems. Lots of kids ride them. Normal hours are skateboard and inline skates only, but they have BMX only hours, Wed & Sat after 6pm, and Sun after 4pm. They will let you keep skating if very few bikers show up, but that is rare. The staff is cool and frequently join in on the ramps, or sit out popping ollies in the parking lot and chatting.

The park is lighted and has vending machines and a port-o-let that is pretty clean -- at least by portolet standards, and there is a terrible sub sandwich shop & convenience store right across the street. Parking available. Hours are listed on the site referenced above, except they only show two BMX nights, when there is really 3. Oh, and they are putting in a sound system either later this year or early next year. As it stands, you can bring a boom box or park close and crank the car stereo.

Regards, and happy skating.

Eric Strawser

Leesburg