FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Brett Kizer, 15, and his friend, Logan Singleton, 14, traveled from Mobile Thursday to try out the new skate facility at Volanta Municipal Park. They were there from 11:30 a.m. to late afternoon, when it was still 90 degrees in the shade.

“I like it a lot,” Kizer said. “Everything’s built really well.” He said Mobile does not have a skateboard park.

The skate plaza is an unsupervised, skate-at-own-risk facility open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to the sign posted at the plaza, which lists the rules and regulations and the Alabama statute, which states the city has no liability for accidents and injuries there. The facility features a number of skating obstacles such as steps and rails along the shaded triangular path winding through pine trees.

“We do encourage people to wear the protective gear,” said Sherry Sullivan, city spokesperson. “We also recommend they skate with a buddy, just like in swimming.”