It’s hard to beat good old-fashioned nostalgia. Unless, of course, it is replaced by something newer, shinier, and more comprehensive like the Maple Grove skate plaza that opened in August 2013.
For skateboarders and BMX bikers, it has become one of the go-to spots in the Twin Cities. Replacing an older version that was rundown and less extensive, the park is a tiered plaza made entirely of concrete with more than 20 skate elements—including stairs, quarter pipes, ledges, rails, and more. Encompassing 8,000 square feet, the plaza includes seating and picnic tables.
The specs are impressive, but to truly appreciate how great the plaza is you have to talk to those who use it. Or stop by and see all the skaters whizzing around.
“It’s a really nice park,” says Michael Duncan. “It’s not too compact or too spaced out, and not crowded as far as jumps and ramps or grinding goes.”
Duncan, 19, is an amateur BMX biker. He spends hours on his bike, many of them at the Maple Grove skate plaza. It is one of Duncan’s favorite places to ride.
“I tried biking [about 10 years ago] and was instantly hooked,” Duncan says. “I went home and told my mom I wanted to buy a BMX bike that day, and started biking every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. It just hooked me because it makes you feel like you’re free.”
Working his way up the ranks, Duncan hopes to qualify for a major competition such as the X-Games. He competes in events around the metro and has nabbed a few sponsorships along the way. If he makes it to the X-Games, or a similar competition, he could potentially ditch his amateur status and become a professional—a goal he’s worked hard to achieve.
One of the groups Duncan has latched on to is Third Lair in Golden Valley. Primarily a skateboarding organization, Third Lair offers classes and a community atmosphere for people interested in skateboarding. Dalton Jones teaches classes for Third Lair at the Maple Grove skate plaza.
“It’s one of the best in the area,” Jones says of the park. Jones grew up in Dayton, Minnesota, and used to drive to the closest park in Elk River. That park was torn down around the same time the Maple Grove park opened. “It kind of worked out that [Maple Grove] became the new place to go,” Jones says.
Working with skaters young and old, Jones sees how popular the Maple Grove plaza can be. Most of the kids taking classes at Third Lair are 8-12 years old, but Jones has had some parents give skateboarding a try, which is part of the reason the park is so successful.
“There is no age limit,” Jones says. “I have taught 60-year-olds and 5-year-olds. I would say if you’ve never tried skateboarding, get some lessons or try it out and see if you like it because it’s super fun.”
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The Maple Grove Skate Plaza is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, including park rules, visit maplegrovemn.gov.
