The Skateparks of Chicopee - Part III (River North)

For the third installment, we will take a look at the smallest park of the bunch, and make a return to the good ol' gray plastic ledges and metal ramps ala Sara Jane.

River North Skatepark

Broadway Street

Besides a few ledges on the other side of the pyramid, these first 2 pictures pretty much sum up this park. It is definitely a tight setup but they've at least managed to stick a decent amount of things to skate considering what they had to work with. This also somehow manages to be the most populated out of the five skateparks - as in, there are usually other people here when I go. I mean, usually it's a 5-year old throwing his scooter around while Dad sits on a ramp texting, or a family of six using the bank as a slide, but it's also common to see actual skatepark enthusiasts - even skateboarders! The main attraction I suppose is the pyramid, if for no other reasons, it's smack in the middle and takes up a bulk of the park.

The pyramid itself is metal and about 2' high, with a 4-stair and handrail on one side, and a plastic, usually EXTRA waxy hubba ledge on the opposite side that is about a foot in height. The handrail is shorter than one you'd usually find at a street spot, and also quite small lengthwise too, making it kinda hard to do anything but tap it via grind or slide. Which is a good and bad thing. The box sitting at the top of the stairs is movable, so in this photo we have a cool example of the many different setups possible with it. The box is identical to the ones you'll find at Sara Jane, plastic, waxy, about a foot high. 

Allowing for some sense of "flow" we have these on either side of the pyramid:

Both are metal and about 4' in height. The quarter pipe is nice - smooth, good width, decent transition and coping. Definitely beats out Sara Jane in this category. The bank is good too, just a little on the steep side which is appreciated.

Off to the sides you only have a few ledges and rails, but they are mostly worthwhile at least. You've got 2 waxy, narrow benches that are a little over a foot in height and a ledge that is close to the same in size, but portable:

For rails, the highlight for me is definitely this killer round rail:

Just so simple, ya know? It's like 10" high, and just…a straight-up rail. No crazy curves, loops, slants, spikes, what have you. The other rail gets a little crazy:

Slants in the middle of flat rails - maybe one of the most frightening sights a skatepark can offer. The shorter half is about 10" high, while the taller half is probably around 16" or so.

That about does it for ol' River North I suppose. The setup is kinda 'take it or leave it' and may get old fast, but I usually have a fun time here. Go skate it, before snow crushes all of your hopes and dreams.