If you like skateboard stunts and extreme bicycling — but you’re tired of being told where you can’t ride — the city of Lawrence has a place for you.

The Lawrence Skate Park, which opened Saturday at Lawrence Community Park, 5301 N. Franklin Road, has ramps and rails and steps, a bowl and a half-pipe. There are several benches for the older and less adventurous to watch from, and lights to let the riding continue into the night.

All bicyclists, in-line skaters and skateboarders are welcome to use the park. There will be no “Stay off the ramps” or “No skating” signs. The only sign will strongly advise that participants wear protective helmets.

Saturday’s opening completed a process that began in February 2008, when skaters and riders were asked what they wanted to see in a skate park. The move to create the park was inspired in part by complaints from area businesses, which wanted a park to draw away skaters and riders who were using their parking lots and steps for stunts.

From the recommendations of dozens of middle school students came the new venue, which joins a collection of baseball, softball and soccer fields and tennis courts at the park.

There are skate parks in Boone, Hamilton and Hendricks counties and at the Major Taylor Velodrome. A skate park at Danville in Hendricks County closed earlier this year because of a history of problems with behavior.

The Lawrence park is the first one on the Northeastside. Lawrence officials note that the park is going to be the closest one for those living to the south, and they expect riders from the Southside to head to the new facility. But a handful of in-line skaters and skateboarders doing tricks Sunday morning in the park doubted the park would be an extreme sports magnet unless some improvements were made.

“There are a lot of design flaws,” said Vince Morrentino, 28, Indianapolis. “There’s no fluid movement through the park, and some of these metal edges need to be ground down. {$326} My skates already have some weird grooves in them from skating here.”

Morrentino, who said he’s been skating more than 13 years and has visited more than 100 skate parks, said local kids likely would continue to use the park, but unless improvements are made, it’s unlikely to draw skaters from outside Lawrence.

The facility has been under construction for several months, with ramps built at another location, brought to the park and welded into place. In the past month, concrete has been poured and a 40-vehicle parking lot has been built.

The city of Lawrence has not decided the operating hours, but the park will be lit and stay open as late as possible. Hours will be unlimited as long as skaters behave, city officials say.

The land came from Lawrence, while the $320,500 to pay for the park came from the Fort Harrison Reuse Authority, the organization that tries to get developers to locate businesses on the grounds of the former U.S. Army base.

Call Star reporter Kevin O’Neal at (317) 444-6304.