where to skate (Philly area)

SteveDallas · 06-05-2005, 06:10 PM

After an afternoon of in-line skating at the Marple Sports Arena yesterday, I became convinced that the rugrats were interested enough to do this on a regular basis, so I purchased skates today. (2 adjustable size kids models for the kids, plus one for Dad--I have to keep up you know--all low-end Bladerunners.) Does anybody have any skating areas? Since we're all relative beginners (I cut my teeth on the old fashioned roller skates back in the late 70s, so I can get around reasonably well, but I need work on some of the subtleties such as stopping) FLAT is a definite requirement. We headed off to Veteran's Memorial Park in Marple Township earlier, and it wasn't bad--a 1500 ft. paved multi-use course around the park. There's also apparently a 5 mile track at the Ridley Creek State Park and the West River / Kelly Drive loop along the Schuylkill. (Though I may be clueless, I have have no idea where you're supposed to park for this.) Anybody tried these? Comments? Other suggestion?

richlevy · 06-05-2005, 07:24 PM

All I can say is that Philadelphia cops do not like skateboarders. I don't know what their policy, official or unofficial is towards inline skaters.

elSicomoro · 06-05-2005, 10:43 PM

Steve, there are several parking lots along Kelly and MLK (W. River) Drives. Haven't skated since the late 80s, so I can't help you there.

SteveDallas · 06-06-2005, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sycamore

Steve, there are several parking lots along Kelly and MLK (W. River) Drives. Haven't skated since the late 80s, so I can't help you there.

Oh, I left out something: I meant where do you park on the weekends when those streets are closed to cars? (I actually looked at the Farimount Park website... there's not a single map of the place!)

elSicomoro · 06-06-2005, 11:28 AM

Kelly Drive is usually only closed on special occasions (like the regattas), so parking along there is usually not a problem. For MLK Drive, you could probably park down by the Art Museum, along Sedgely or Waterworks Dr. Strawberry Mansion Dr. might also be an option. I would take a drive down there after work and check them out.

Jacquelita · 06-06-2005, 05:56 PM

Skating in fairmount park is great - especially down past the art museum, and boathouse row - really cool. I did it almost every weekend during one summer. You see a lot of great characters. Lots of people out with pets as well, if you'd like to bring rover along. There are a few vendors (sodas and pretzels etc,) who will set out water bowls for hot pooches.

One time I saw a man taking a beautiful red and yellow parrot out for a bike ride! He had the bird's cage strapped to the handlebars of his bike!

We would always park on the Franklin Parkway as close to the art museum as you can get. The trail runs right around the museum. You start skating right in front of ther museum winding around to the right past boathuose row, the waterworks and down along the river - it's very beatuiful. There's metered parking on the right hand side of the parkway as you approach the museum. There's a little oval parking lot directly in front of the museum, I think it's about $10 to park there.

It's also cool to take your skates off, walk up the "Rocky" steps, then there's a large flat area you can skate on right in front of the museum.

Another cool place to skate is the Schuykill river trail. Well paved and generally flat since it follows the river. It actually starts in Valley Forge National Park - but you can jump on just about anywhere along the trail.

here's a link for more info

http://www.montcopa.org/parks/schuylkillrivertrail.htm

russotto · 06-07-2005, 11:15 AM

A trail now extends south of the Art Museum on the east side at least as far as Walnut Street. Best free place to park for that trail or the river drive trails is Pennsylvania Avenue, if you can find a spot.

If you're taking kids on the Schuylkill River trail, the best place is right around the Betzwood trailhead or east from the Conshohocken rail station. Or in Perkiomen Valley Park on the adjoining Perkiomen Valley trail. Near Norristown on the trail, there's often people hanging out who may or may not be up to no good, and the trail is in somewhat poor condition there anyway.

SteveDallas · 07-24-2005, 08:05 PM

We did the Kelly Drive thing today. The kids were along (one skating, one biking) so I didn't go as far or as fast as I could have alone, but we started at the parking lot just past the Strawberry Mansion Bridge and went down almost to the Columbia Bridge, which according to my trusty street atlas is just short of a mile, and came back, so that was pretty good. It was fun just being out, although my son hasn't quite internalized the concept of "stay on the right side!" (If anybody was out there, we were slowpokes in black rollerblade pads, pink Barbie pads, and blue/fluorescent green bike--me, daughter, and son respectively.)

06-05-2005, 06:10 PM	#1
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	where to skate (Philly area) After an afternoon of in-line skating at the Marple Sports Arena yesterday, I became convinced that the rugrats were interested enough to do this on a regular basis, so I purchased skates today. (2 adjustable size kids models for the kids, plus one for Dad--I have to keep up you know--all low-end Bladerunners.) Does anybody have any skating areas? Since we're all relative beginners (I cut my teeth on the old fashioned roller skates back in the late 70s, so I can get around reasonably well, but I need work on some of the subtleties such as stopping) FLAT is a definite requirement. We headed off to Veteran's Memorial Park in Marple Township earlier, and it wasn't bad--a 1500 ft. paved multi-use course around the park. There's also apparently a 5 mile track at the Ridley Creek State Park and the West River / Kelly Drive loop along the Schuylkill. (Though I may be clueless, I have have no idea where you're supposed to park for this.) Anybody tried these? Comments? Other suggestion?

06-05-2005, 07:24 PM	#2
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	All I can say is that Philadelphia cops do not like skateboarders. I don't know what their policy, official or unofficial is towards inline skaters. __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama

06-05-2005, 10:43 PM	#3
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	Steve, there are several parking lots along Kelly and MLK (W. River) Drives. Haven't skated since the late 80s, so I can't help you there.

06-06-2005, 11:28 AM	#5
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	Kelly Drive is usually only closed on special occasions (like the regattas), so parking along there is usually not a problem. For MLK Drive, you could probably park down by the Art Museum, along Sedgely or Waterworks Dr. Strawberry Mansion Dr. might also be an option. I would take a drive down there after work and check them out.

06-06-2005, 05:56 PM	#6
Jacquelita Don't pop a vein Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: in my own mind Posts: 289	Skating in fairmount park is great - especially down past the art museum, and boathouse row - really cool. I did it almost every weekend during one summer. You see a lot of great characters. Lots of people out with pets as well, if you'd like to bring rover along. There are a few vendors (sodas and pretzels etc,) who will set out water bowls for hot pooches. One time I saw a man taking a beautiful red and yellow parrot out for a bike ride! He had the bird's cage strapped to the handlebars of his bike! We would always park on the Franklin Parkway as close to the art museum as you can get. The trail runs right around the museum. You start skating right in front of ther museum winding around to the right past boathuose row, the waterworks and down along the river - it's very beatuiful. There's metered parking on the right hand side of the parkway as you approach the museum. There's a little oval parking lot directly in front of the museum, I think it's about $10 to park there. It's also cool to take your skates off, walk up the "Rocky" steps, then there's a large flat area you can skate on right in front of the museum. Another cool place to skate is the Schuykill river trail. Well paved and generally flat since it follows the river. It actually starts in Valley Forge National Park - but you can jump on just about anywhere along the trail. here's a link for more info http://www.montcopa.org/parks/schuylkillrivertrail.htm

06-07-2005, 11:15 AM	#7
russotto Professor Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,788	A trail now extends south of the Art Museum on the east side at least as far as Walnut Street. Best free place to park for that trail or the river drive trails is Pennsylvania Avenue, if you can find a spot. If you're taking kids on the Schuylkill River trail, the best place is right around the Betzwood trailhead or east from the Conshohocken rail station. Or in Perkiomen Valley Park on the adjoining Perkiomen Valley trail. Near Norristown on the trail, there's often people hanging out who may or may not be up to no good, and the trail is in somewhat poor condition there anyway.

07-24-2005, 08:05 PM	#8
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	We did the Kelly Drive thing today. The kids were along (one skating, one biking) so I didn't go as far or as fast as I could have alone, but we started at the parking lot just past the Strawberry Mansion Bridge and went down almost to the Columbia Bridge, which according to my trusty street atlas is just short of a mile, and came back, so that was pretty good. It was fun just being out, although my son hasn't quite internalized the concept of "stay on the right side!" (If anybody was out there, we were slowpokes in black rollerblade pads, pink Barbie pads, and blue/fluorescent green bike--me, daughter, and son respectively.)

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