Ten important skateboard spots in Murfreesboro, Tennessee
1. Old Fort Park Skatepark
Location: 1025 Old Fort Pkwy
Old Fort Park Skatepark is one of the most popular skateboarding destinations in Murfreesboro. It’s a concrete skatepark designed to accommodate riders of all skill levels. The park features a range of obstacles, including quarter pipes, rails, ledges, and a large bowl that draws in skaters who love transition skating. The park is known for its smooth surfaces, making it a great place to practice technical tricks. The flow of the park allows riders to link tricks together seamlessly. Additionally, the park's close proximity to Old Fort Park makes it a relaxing place to skate, surrounded by greenery.
Why It’s a Top Spot:
Old Fort Skatepark offers a well-balanced setup for both beginner and advanced skaters. The bowl is one of the park’s main attractions, perfect for those who enjoy transition skating. With its clean design and diverse obstacles, it's a must-visit for any skateboarder in Murfreesboro.
2. Hop Springs Beer Park
Location: 6790 John Bragg Hwy
Though primarily a beer park and entertainment venue, Hop Springs features open concrete areas where skateboarders often gather. It’s a unique spot where you can skate and enjoy live music or grab a drink after a session. The large open space provides skaters with plenty of room to practice flat-ground tricks, and the smooth concrete makes it ideal for street-style skating. It's not a traditional skatepark, but the creative use of space here has made it a local favorite.
Why It’s a Top Spot:
Hop Springs Beer Park isn’t just about skateboarding; it's a social destination. The spacious, flat concrete surfaces allow skaters to enjoy long sessions, and the ambiance makes it a fun place to hang out, especially on weekends.
3. Murfreesboro Outdoor Amphitheater (Street Spot)
Location: 312 S Front St
The Murfreesboro Outdoor Amphitheater is another non-traditional skate spot but has become popular due to its urban architecture. Skaters are drawn to its stair sets, ledges, and handrails. The spot is typically empty during the day, giving skateboarders the chance to enjoy the terrain without much interruption. The amphitheater's design, with long staircases and wide ledges, provides a playground for street skaters looking to hone their technical skills.
Why It’s a Top Spot:
This is one of the best street spots in Murfreesboro. The variety of obstacles like handrails and stair sets makes it a haven for street skaters looking for a challenge.
4. Patterson Park Community Center Skate Area
Location: 521 Mercury Blvd
Patterson Park is primarily a community center but features a small, concrete area where skateboarders frequently gather. Though not an official skatepark, it offers enough flat-ground space for practicing tricks. It’s a great place for beginners to start or for more experienced skaters to work on technical tricks without the pressure of large crowds. Patterson Park’s skate area also serves as a social hub, making it easy to connect with other skateboarders in the community.
Why It’s a Top Spot:
This location may be modest in size, but it's perfect for low-key sessions, especially for beginners or skaters who prefer practicing technical tricks.
5. The Avenues Shopping Center (Street Spot)
Location: 2615 Medical Center Pkwy
Skateboarders often use large retail areas as makeshift skate spots, and The Avenues Shopping Center is no exception. While it’s technically private property, skaters often hit the area early in the morning or late at night when the parking lots are empty. The smooth surfaces and manual pads are ideal for practicing flip tricks, ollies, and manuals. The ledges around the shopping center are also perfect for grinds and slides. Be cautious, though—security might ask you to leave during business hours.
Why It’s a Top Spot:
The Avenues is popular for its expansive, smooth concrete and manual-friendly terrain. It’s a great street spot for skaters who prefer early-morning or late-night sessions.
6. Barfield Crescent Park
Location: 697 Veterans Pkwy
Though primarily a park for hiking and outdoor recreation, Barfield Crescent has areas that skateboarders have claimed for flat-ground skating. The park features plenty of flat, paved pathways that skaters use for practicing tricks or just cruising. The park's open spaces and beautiful scenery make it a relaxing spot for skaters who want to mix their passion for skating with an appreciation for nature.
Why It’s a Top Spot:
If you enjoy cruising and flat-ground tricks in a peaceful, scenic environment, Barfield Crescent is perfect. It’s a great place to take a break from more intense spots and just enjoy skating in nature.
7. Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)
Location: 1301 E Main St
MTSU’s sprawling campus provides skateboarders with endless street skating possibilities. From stair sets and rails to ledges and manual pads, the university offers a variety of obstacles scattered throughout its grounds. The campus is relatively quiet on weekends, which is when most skaters take advantage of the terrain. Be aware of security, though, as skating is technically not allowed in certain areas.
Why It’s a Top Spot:
The university’s mix of architecture and obstacles makes it a treasure trove for street skaters. The stair sets, handrails, and ledges provide ample challenges for advanced skaters.
8. Gateway Island
Location: 1875 W College St
Gateway Island is a beautifully landscaped area with smooth pathways and open spaces. It’s another unconventional skate spot but ideal for those looking for a peaceful environment to practice flat-ground tricks. The park is generally quiet and not frequented by large crowds, so it’s easy to have a laid-back skate session without interruptions. Skating here in the early mornings or late afternoons provides a serene experience.
Why It’s a Top Spot:
Gateway Island is perfect for skaters who prefer a calm, relaxing environment. The smooth pathways make it great for practicing flat-ground tricks, and the park’s tranquility is unmatched.
9. Siegel Park
Location: 515 Cherry Ln
Siegel Park is primarily known for its sports fields and walking trails, but skaters have taken to the park’s expansive parking lots and flat, paved areas. The smooth concrete surfaces make it ideal for beginners practicing basic tricks, as well as for more advanced skaters looking to refine their flat-ground game. The park’s large, open spaces allow for long sessions without the crowds you might encounter at more traditional skateparks.
Why It’s a Top Spot:
For skaters who like open spaces to practice without pressure, Siegel Park offers plenty of room. It’s especially good for beginners or those looking to work on flat-ground tricks.
10. The Fountains at Gateway (Street Spot)
Location: 1500 Medical Center Pkwy
The Fountains at Gateway is a modern retail and office complex, featuring sleek, urban architecture that skaters can’t resist. The clean lines, smooth ledges, and open areas make this a favorite spot for street skaters. The complex also features manual pads and small stair sets, giving skaters a variety of obstacles to work with. Like other street spots, skaters often gather here after business hours to avoid conflicts with security or office workers.
Why It’s a Top Spot:
The Fountains at Gateway offers a well-maintained urban environment with a range of street obstacles. It’s a great spot for technical skaters who enjoy grinds, slides, and manual tricks.
Skateboarding is tribal and most locals are welcoming, but if you're new to a spot, or just passing through, have respect for the locals. Listen. Be smart. Have fun.
A human being
Art can change the world – and everybody is an artist. Those who scribble stickmen. Those who paint chapel ceilings. Those who tattoo biceps. Those who are careful with pigment on canvas. Those who create fantasy characters. Those who paint pet portraits. Those who yarn bomb. Those who write poems on crappy old cardboard.
My art lives on the bottom of skateboard decks. It's designed for you to destroy. For you, the rider, my art may come second to the deck’s ability to perform – and that’s awesome. To me, art comes first. Always.
It’s how I think. It’s who I am. It’s what I am.
A machine
This article has been created with the help of artificial intelligence platforms ChatGPT and Bard. If there are inaccuracies or there are opportunities for improvement, please let me know.
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