Pink Panther Skateboard Park - Slidell LA

Skatepark added to a Trailer Park and campground

Described as “The ill-fated, $90,000 boondoggle skatepark,” Pink Panther skatepark appears to have been poorly conceived and poorly timed. It is mostly remembered for what it was after it was closed down.

"Opening during the peak of the energy crisis, the operation of the skate park, campground and mobile home was a disaster. It took an infusion of new dollars by stockholders...to bail it out in 1981. A year after his take over, many of the problems are remembered only as used-to-be’s. The unprofitable skate park is now growing in weeds and destined for leveling, the sewage treatment plant that can care for 180 mobile homes and campers is in correct operation, the drainage and electrical problems have been corrected, and even the prostitutes moved out.”

The peak of the energy crisis is generally regarded as the time between May-July 1979, and new park development drew to a near standstill at that point.  The design of Pink Panther suggests it was built much earlier than that.  It utilized a takeoff ramp design and included "concrete wave" style berms instead of the vertical surfaces that were the desired terrain for second generation parks of the time.

(If you have information about the opening of Pink Panther, please share with us!)

Sources:

Perkins, Gilda. (July 08, 1983). "Former Broker Happy With New Lifestyle". North Ponchartrain Newspaper Daily News.

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