The new Grindline built novice park at the Howard M. Terpenning Recreation Complex is open for skating. Too bad it was raining today. Reports are that it is small but fun. There’s that word again. Oh no, I just blew out the skatepark.
Thanks Rick MacDonald for the phone cam shot.
27 comments
Tom Miller
That bowl is damn good. Super fun. Grindline did a great job.
Fitz
I grew up about two miles from that spot. Rad to see something like that back in the old neighborhood. Of course, my old neighborhood is nothing more than a parking lot in a strip mall now, but whatever, I’d have given my left nut for a spot like that when I was a kid. We somehow made do with Smiley Banks, Twin Oaks, The Rec Center Three…
Oh, and don’t knock the prefab or the slab too much. Yes, they pale in comparison to Grindline’s finish work, but they’re still a place meant for skating, and certainly somewhere I’ve spent plenty of time amusing myself.
Less crowds the better!
Mac
I was told that the lights at this park were programmed to stay on until 10pm. Not sure if this is happening (anyone know?), but it’ll be nice in the winter for the 2 or 3 days its not raining.
tVere
Hey Shawn,
According to the local government, the Tualatin Hills Recreational Park District (THRPD) facility is not within the Beaverton city limits (unless things have changed since I moved 3 months ago). Basically, some HUGE multinational sport shoe and apparel company very near by doesn’t want to be within the Beaverton City limits, so the THRPD currently is outside of Beaverton.
How to get there by bus or MAX:
EASY WAY
Take either the Red or Blue line MAX to the Sunset Transit Center, then catch the #59 bus to SW 158th and Walker Rd., the bus will let you off across the street (158th) from the THRPD. Cross 158th and go into the first big building you see at the THRPD and ask how to get to the skatepark from there. Also, most of the local folks know where the skatepark is even if they don’t skate. The problem with this route is that the #59 quits running around 6:30pm.
NOT AS EASY WAY
Take the Blue line MAX (not the Red line) to the Merlo/SW 158th stop. Walk (oops, skate) North on 158th until you get to Walker Rd. At that point you should be able to see the THRPD facility – now you have to find someone who can direct you to the skatepark, start asking people. The only problem with this route is that the THRPD is about 1 mile from the MAX. On the other hand, the MAX runs until at least 11:30pm.
By car – use the google map. Cars suck. Ride a skateboard instead.
Kilwag
Tuallatin Hills complex is essentially bevertron. Follow hte link (novie park) it’s a google map.
shawn
Can some one answer my question!!!
Kilwag
And now everybody is happy!
benny b bones
Cool. When I get out of work I’ll e-mail you some of my photos. Right now I just have phohtos of me and my freinds but I’ll work on getting you some pics of more of the local skaters within the next week or so.
Kilwag
What would we do with it? We’d post them up here and wait til some complains about us ignoring the scene in New Zealand…
But seriously, I try to get as much coverage from other locations as possible. We just got a roadtrip story from Sweden last month. I’d love Japanese stuff if I could get some.
benny b bones
Hey Kilwag, I appologize about the attitude. I work twelve hour shifts with jack shit to do so I get a little cranky sometimes. TI think you touched on a pretty good idea. I live in Okinawa, Japan and there is a great skate scene growing here with alot of realy amazing Japanese and American skaters. I’d love to send you guys photos, what would you all do with them?
Kilwag
Hey Benny, News flash! We’re based in the Northwest so you’re going to see a lot of Northwest coverage. If you’ve got information about other areas, send it in instead of complaining that we don’t cover it.
benny b bones
Wow. Another Northwest skatepark featured on this site. A healthy skate scene does exist in the Mid-West/Southeast/Northeast. Just thought I
shawn
I thought this was in Beaverton, or did they build two small bowls recently?
Mac
Just got back from there and yeah, wicked fun. The pool coping is a really nice touch. As usual, bowl runs are there when you want them, and the “street” section was crowded, but mainly with decidedly non-novices skating in a decidedly non-novice fashion, and clearly having a very good time. The crappy ramp park was surprisingly crowded with the usual scooter/bike/slab session happening. It’s like they built the new section and a whole different bunch of guys showed up and were skating it, leaving the true “novice park” for the same kids as before. Odd.
Dave, while I was there, one of the “community advisors” who was at the feedback meeting turned up and I talked to him for a while. He was very positive, and actually happy to see that the new section was getting hit hard, and the scooter-kids were still in the old part (basically what we told them would happen at the meeting). He’s advocating for more “spots” like this in the district (they’re looking at the park next to Beavertron High next), and was supportive of proposing re-doing the crappy ramp area once the park officials had a chance to see the flow, and how nice the new section was. It won’t happen any time soon, but it’s clear already that this is what needs to be done.
“Fun little neighorhood park” is a great description. Definitely also a great place to learn, if the groms can get a run in. It would have been somewhat intimidating today…
tobin dave
It’s super fun, Thanks shaggy. It has all the lip for lip trick prctice and a mini extention. Perfect.
dave
I wouldnt say its Grindline’s best park by any stretch…
It’s fun and the finish is super smooth…
but wait…I’ll contribute some negativity…its located in the sports complex and probably has one of the worst scenes ever.
kids, cheetos, scooters, energy drinks, bmx’ers and lots of parental supervision within a stones throw.
It’s a fun little neighborhood park….too bad they didnt use all that wasted space with the old wooden ramps adjacent to the new park…then we would have something worth discussing.
Welsh Pete
Anyone know anything about the Bay City addition?
chompy
oh… colin already said that
chompy
or west linn… what the hell are you talking about heckler?
colin
that looks fantastic! I love grindline… every heard of West Linn?
Hass
Sounds like someone hasn’t been to Orcas, Duvall, or Butter Bowl.
Ryan Heckler
‘grindlines’s best park’ doesn’t say a whole lot. Grind line parks seem to be second rate compared to Dreamland, too many kooks in the kitchen.
bobcat
Sleestak has a couple photos as usual, with plenty of hairbrained commentary (as usual too)
Larry
anybody got more pics??
Propinas
I was blown away. It’s small but has a spine you can really learn on, it has a real gap that I saw kids lovin on hard. I think it’s GRINDLINE’S best. It’s the best little park in town.
JF
How many damn parks you guys need? I’m jealous.
Kilwag
Another new skate park/spot? Absurd! Nothing good will come of this, I promise you!
Looks fun!
Is that the MC miniature model filter or is that natural phonecam action?