The Parasite Skatepark, located under Interstate 610 at Paris Avenue in Gentilly, began as a do-it-yourself operation by local skateboarders after another makeshift park was demolished nearby. The City of New Orleans approved the project and agreed to donate $150,000 worth of prefabricated ramps left over from a Red Bull-sponsored event.

Looking to expand the site and create a more park like area than currently exists, the skateboarders created a non-profit called Transitional Spaces, secured funding from the Drew Breeze Foundation and the Tony Hawk Foundation and enlisted the help of the Tulane City Center to help with design and construction.

Located at the corner of Paris Ave and Pleasure Street the state of the art park used cast in place concrete, reinforced with HDG angle for corners and HDG handrail for those terrifying slide and jumps, and unique HDG ramps made to look like a soft drink cup top with a straw. The Cup was donated to Transitional Spaces to represent skate boarding as it is done on public streets yet kept in a private safe setting.

Plans are underway to continue the theme of life-like obstacles such as the lower portion of the cup and park benches to make the course challenging and fun. The durability of HDG will play a major role in the expansion of the park. HDG was chosen for corrosion protection for abrasion resistance and for the aesthetic appeal it would add to the future development of the park planning.

It is hard to imagine anything more abrasive than a skateboard hitting, turning and sliding down a galvanized ramp or rail of some kind. The project was on a very tight budget so low initial cost as well as life-cycle cost made HDG the obvious choice for low maintenance in the harsh Lower Ninth Ward environment.

Parasite Skatepark is a great example of collaboration of municipal and private donations to create a much needed recreational option for the youth across New Orleans. Some of the local skateboarders have received endorsements for skill on the course. Thanks to HDG skaters will have a sustainable well organized, and safer place to practice their sport.