Chicago's original inline skating online community.

Oak / Division LFP construction?

Hey I skated to Oak Street Beach last Saturday and found it DEVASTATED
basically from chess pavilion south. Yards of path gone, and lower plateaus
thoroughly demolished.

The choice skating juggling area I've long loved and where stopping lessons
are held, would seem currently unusable for less extreme skaters than I.
Anyone know details? Far North is my hood, so I only see Oak a few times a
year. What happened? When'll it be all better?

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Bedno on April 17, 2009 at 11:39pm

Was passing by today and can confirm that the north of Oak Street Beach area is grossly poor for skating. Will post full set of photos later, one example attached here. Some new tar patching only makes it worse for skating. There are large chunks out all over, some down to exposed rebar, especially along the skater cone markings. And at least two sizable sections of path are stripped, forcing skaters to stop and walk around. Barring major unlikely improvement, conducting beginners skating lessons here would be unwise.

1.7 miles North however the new ramped and plateaued stretch South of Diversey is PRISTINE!!!!! This is Just past Fullerton and the Theatre On The Lake (which later in summer sells snax+drinx+beer). The multiple levels are a wonderful trick skating practice area, but is barely visible from the path.

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oak_construction-20090314.jpg, 113 KB

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Bedno on May 4, 2009 at 1:15am

Skating lessons reported moved to a new locations:
"We have decided to hold it at the underpass to Central Station just south of Soldier Field. It has good pavement and we will stay dry in case it does rain."

Is this really the Chicago Skater Patrol beginners lessons location? It's not easily plotted, mapped, nor described, Some 3.5 miles South of prior location, past Navy Pier and a river crossing and all of Monroe Harbor. No parking and more than a mile from the nearest train as far as I can tell. Finally, it is literally hidden from view. Even at Oak street in good condition there were days when the volunteers gave few lessons, but um, good luck with that.

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