FDR Skatepark

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FDR Skatepark (formerly known as "Phillyside" and "Burnside") is a skatepark located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It is accessible from the Pattison Avenue stop of the Broad Street subway line. The park has long been popular with notable local skaters such as Willy Akers, Chuck Treece, Bam Margera, Kerry Getz and various other local pro skaters. The park was built on unused public land in Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park beneath an overpass of Interstate 95. The park came to be through volunteer labor and donations of materials. Over time the park has expanded with additions and inclusions to the area around the original components of the park.

The park was born because Philadelphia’s government wanted to put a stop to skateboarding at Love Park. Their solution was to set aside 16,000 square feet of real estate beneath the highway. City Hall thought this was going to be enough to solve the problems caused by skaters in the city, but after about a year, the locals got restless. With inspiration from Burnside and tired of waiting on the City, the people took matters into their own hands and started building a transition up a support pole, a corner bowl, and a mogul or two between that.^[1]

In 2019, Philly officials released that they had created a new, $200 million plan to turn the FDR skatepark into an ‘urban oasis.’ The plan brings new amenities and things that will draw more visitors to the area. Feedback that was given by the community mentioned that people of South Philly, and FDR skatepark users love opportunities to connect with nature and safe walking and biking trails. New additions to the park include elevated boardwalks, an expansion on the Shed Brook Creek so visitors can kayak, The Franklin 5k— a 3.1 mile trail, a “great lawn,” and the completion of the field. This plan was created after the infrastructure of the park was damaged from years of flooding.^[2]