Riley Rocks!

Ollies and kick flips, the boneless and the late shove it, grinds and nollies – if these words are foreign to you, spend an afternoon hanging out at Riley Skate Park and get an extreme sport education.

They're all names of skate board tricks, and at Riley you can watch experts and novices alike perfect their skateboarding and in-line skating skills. Or, try it yourself if you daydream of being the next X Games superstar!

The skate park is just inside the gates of on Eight Mile Road in Farmington Hills. Designed by local skateboarders, Site Design Group and Grindline, the 29,000-square-foot, all-concrete park opened in 2009 and is maintained by the City of Farmington Hills.

Riley Skate Park is considered the best in Michigan by local extreme athletes, and the teens and adults we talked to were very enthusiastic about skating there. Some were from as far away as Lansing and thought the park well worth the drive time and gas money.

Use of the park is free, and it's open dawn to dusk (8 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. in the summer months). A small pavilion with picnic tables provides shade and a place for spectators to enjoy the action.

Bikes are prohibited in the skate park; it's only for skateboards and in-line skates. The design of the park provides ramps, curves, steps and other elements for skaters of all skill levels.

In the summer months, week-long skateboarding camps are offered by Farmington Hills Recreation and at Riley Skate Park. The park is also a venue for regional competitions, including the upcoming Fall Classic Skateboard Competition in September. For more information on camps and competitions, visit the Riley Skate Park website here or call 248-473-1800.