Indoor Skateboarding Park Opens In Northeast Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A new indoor skate park has set up shop at the Franklin Mills Mall, just in time for the winter season.

Owner Dan McCollister (above) says the "Black Diamond" skateboarding facility is a 40,000-square-foot indoor skate park, and more.

"Most of the store is this actual skate park itself which has ramps and stair sets and half pipes that the kids come and skateboard, ride their bikes on," he said at Friday morning's grand opening, "and the rest of the store is for retail use –- skateboards, snowboards, clothing, shoes."

McCollister says that what is unique about this skate park is that it's an indoor venue where skateboarders and BMX bikers can practice when the weather gets bad.

What are his expectations?

"For kids to come and have fun, and have a place they can call their home away from home.  And I am in business, so I hope it will be successful, too," McCollister says.

He says Black Diamond attracts all levels of skaters: "Full blown pros all the way down to six-year-olds who just want to get started."

He says it costs $15 for a session, which is generally two hours, or $20 for the whole day.

Reported by Hadas Kuznits, KYW Newsradio 1060.