Located a few pumps off Biscayne Boulevard in the Village of El Portal, SkateBird Miami has become a community hub for all things rolling, learning, gaming and casual dining over the last three years.
With three skating areas, a dedicated gaming room, a podcasting studio, an art classroom, a nail salon, a DJ school and more, this free-to-enter concrete playground has a wide variety of paid amenities for all ages.
“We’re more than just a skate park,” said general manager Daniela Urrieche. “Kids need a space to relax that’s safe for them, where they can feel like they can be themselves.”
You enter through a green shipping container with doors wide open. On your left, you’ll spot the first track that regulars call the plaza. It’s shaded to protect from the harsh Florida weather.
“We are the only park in South Florida that has full shade on that side of the track,” Urrieche stated. “When it rains, when it’s hot, people love going there.”
On the second floor of the plaza is Multitap, a dim gaming and sim racing lounge that has a row of PC’s and racing simulator chairs ready to be used with no reservations required. The lounge also has a podcasting studio that can be rented.
The El Portal Skateshop, located right under Multitap, is where guests can purchase all the gear they need to ride the rails like board decks and wheels. Studio Revibe doubles as a vintage clothing shop and nail salon that occasionally hosts clothes swaps. Mix DJ Mia, housed under the podcasting studio, teaches aspiring disc jockeys how to spin and mix tracks using real equipment used by professionals.
Once you make your way past the plaza you’ll spot their outdoor area, a pump track with various dips and rises, designed to let the rider pump with their knees over and around with little pushing required.
Experienced skaters like Tristian Pendleton, praise this section for its high thrills and speeds.
“That thing is intimidating dog,” Pendleton recalled. “It shoots you out so quickly, you truly have to commit and stay grounded to your board.”
A seating area called the “observation deck,” where parents and guests can relax and watch from a safe distance, is situated in-between the plaza and pump track.
Boards aren’t the only wheels allowed in both areas, with bikes and scooters being another option should guests not know how to ride.
With the summer rapidly approaching, the park is hosting ‘The Birds Skate Camp’ a summer program for children where they’ll learn to glide with trained mentors. Campers also have access to the other amenities in the plaza including the gaming lounge, DJ studio, arts and crafts, water activities and more fun. The summer camp program keeps rolling through Aug. 9.
After a few laps around the tracks, you might find yourself at one of the many food spots located right outside the plaza.
Zelda’s Kitchen, is a Mediterranean cuisine food truck, with a menu comprised of homemade meals made by cook Zelda Kalfa. All her dishes are made with love and fresh ingredients, providing healthier alternatives for visitors.
A mini ramp, which is currently being upgraded, is tucked to the right of a shaded seating area next to the food truck.
Many have traveled from across South Florida to visit the venue for its unique features and inclines like Ismael Morreo from Pompano Beach.
“I like the two quarter pipes at the end over there, and the pump track,” Morreo mentioned. “It’s good at getting some speed definitely.”
For people like Morreo, this spot is more than just another park to ride around in.
“Kids are doing their thing, parents are chilling having pizza and drinks,” Morreo said. “It’s like a safe haven, it’s a good place to be.”
SkateBird Miami is open seven days a week, if you’d like to know more about their summer camp program or pricing for their various amenities, click here.
533 NE 83rd st., call 305-603-8015, or email info@skatebirdmiami.com
