By JOSEPH KELLARD
Oil City Skate Park in Oceanside, which opened its doors in August, is the only privately owned skate park in Nassau County.
"The only other park on Long Island like this is in East Setauket, so it's a lot easier on a lot of parents," said John McFelly, owner of Oil City. "They had to drive an hour each weekend, so of course they welcome my place. I looked for two years before I found the right spot."
Located at 3565 Maple Ct., Oil City boasts Long Island's largest half-pipe, a 12-foot-high, U-shaped ramp. The 14,500-square-foot facility also features seven- and four-foot half-pipes as well as a "street course" with a variety of obstacles.
"I'm looking forward to the winter," McFelly said. "Even when Baldwin Skate Park is closed down when it drizzles, I see a big increase in business."
Oceanside resident Nancy Achstatter, whose 16-year-old son, Matt, is an avid skateboarder, said that before half-pipes were built in Baldwin Park she used to drive her sons to a skate park in Philadelphia for weekend retreats.
"The only other facility that's around is in Long Beach, but that's only open to residents of the city," said Achstatter, who spearheaded the effort to build the skate park in Baldwin, the only park of its kind on Long Island.
"The ramps [at Oil City] are well made, and you can't find obstacle courses like theirs anywhere else," said her son Matt. "They're really quality obstacle courses."
McFelly, a 15-year Baldwin resident, left his job as a trader on Wall Street to buy Back Street Blues, a nightclub in Rockville Center, and to start an additional business. "Good ol' capitalism was my motivation for opening Oil City," he said. "I used to take my son to a skate park called 516 in Lindenhurst that is now closed. When I went there I started to get ideas about opening my own place."
While waiting for permits to open Oil City, McFelly spoke to students at Oceanside Middle School last year during Career Day. Accompanied by a few teen skateboarders, and following a man who opened his own karate studio, he discussed with the students "how you can make a career out of your passion," he said.
McFelly already looks to expand on his business, which now features a pro shop with clothing and make-it-yourself skateboards, an arcade room and a food court.
"We give private and semi-private lessons right now, and we hope very shortly to get into organized classes," he said. "We're also looking to do more all-night skate jams and competitions."
To find out more about Oil City, visit its web site at www.oilcitysk8.com or call 594-1888.
JH
