The husband and I went to the new Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark this past Friday.  We picked up Steak Fajita Cabana Bowls and enjoyed the unusually cool July evening weather while watching skaters take turns attempting tricks.

“The Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark is a state-of-the-art 30,000 square foot in-ground public facility, known to contain the largest cradle in the world. Houston’s new skateboarding facility will provide the first world-class, in-ground skatepark in our region, and vault the city to the forefront of American venues for this fast-growing, dynamic sport. The park will have areas for skaters of all levels, from the seasoned pro to the beginner – skaters can work on their kick flip, ollie, fakie big spin…or simply learn to stay balanced!”

It was a really neat place.  It was fun to see parents cheering on their kids and it was great to see kids and teenagers cheering each other on.  It was also entertaining to see grown men put on their kneepads and helmets and brave the cradle.  It’s wonderful to know that the city and some wealthy donors felt it was worthwhile to give skaters a place to hang out and a way to have fun doing what they do without getting in trouble for trespassing or skating in prohibited spaces.  It was also nice to see so many kids enjoying the outdoors and physical activity instead of sitting behind their Xbox 360s and PS3s playing Tony Hawk.  We stayed for quite awhile, watching the skaters and also watching the sun set over the downtown skyline as the buildings slowly lit up the night sky.

Here are some photos I took (I regretted not bringing my flash, I apologize in advance for the blurry photos):

Summer Hours of Operation: June 2 – September 1, 2008

Monday - Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Make sure you bring your own food and drinks, they don’t have any vending machines there.  You might consider bringing a blanket or lawn chairs as there aren’t chairs for watching the skate action, just a cement wall and a grassy hill.