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Weather, for one. Location, for another.
But a local businessman, inspired by his two sons, has a solution to those unwanted obstacles.
He's opening the county's only indoor skate park, Skate-It LLC.
There, skateboarders will find only the desirable kind of obstacles, like speed ramps and half-pipes.
Skate-It will open Sunday in Manheim's Greentree Business Park in the former Raymark complex.
Eric Anderson, a Lititz resident who owns Lancaster Tank & Truck Wash, credited his sons, Matthew and Jeff, for the new business venture.
Matthew, 17, a senior at Warwick High School, and Jeff, 14, a freshman, spend a lot of time at an outdoor skate park in Lititz.
That's great when the weather cooperates, said Anderson.
"But there's nowhere for the kids to go when the weather isn't that nice. That's what started me thinking about opening an indoor skate park — there's a need for it in the county," he said.
According to Anderson, the closest indoor skate park is in Maryland, not exactly convenient for Lancaster County enthusiasts.
The 7,000-square-foot facility at 253 Redwood Lane will have a 1,000-square-foot retail area and 6,000-square-foot skate area.
Obstacles will include a mini-ramp (or half-pipe) that's six feet high and 30 feet wide, and a seven-foot speed ramp, with a 45-degree slope that allows skaters to accelerate.
The skaters helped design and construct the obstacles, as did Anderson and partner Ken Banzhof Jr., who also is a partner at Lancaster Tank & Truck Wash.
"I asked them what they look for when they skate and what they like to do," said Anderson.
Anderson declined to disclose the cost to open Skate-It.
Anderson said he will be its only employee, but older skaters who work as security personnel will be compensated with free skate time.
For safety, all skaters will have to wear a helmet. All skaters under 14 will have to wear knee and elbow pads.
Hours will be weekdays 4 to 9 p.m., Saturdays 2 to 10 p.m., and Sundays 1 to 9 p.m.
Admission will be $10 to $12 for sessions of two to three hours, or $20 for all day Saturday or Sunday.
