Riverbend Park and Skatepark
Riverbend Park & Skatepark is a park on the outskirts of Petoskey nestled up next to the Bear River. The park features sand volleyball courts, pickleball courts, a pre-built skatepark, and green space with access to the Bear River Trail section of the North Country Trail. The skatepark is all pre-built ramps, half-pipes, rails, and other equipment, but the concrete with which it is paired is smooth and overall maintained very well. There is plenty of room to spread out here, and there is no admission fee like at the Charlevoix and Harbor Springs parks. We did not go to either of those parks because of the admission fee, so not having to worry about paying to skate was nice. The sand volleyball and pickleball courts were well-maintained and in use while we were there. There is a green space between the skatepark and the Bear River that was quite nice, and I can imagine would be a great picnic spot. The river itself is very serene, and the fall weather greeted us with color all around. The trail continues from Riverbend Park along the shores of the Bear River through Bear River Valley Recreation Area and into downtown to the bay. Riverbend Park & Skatepark was a great break from the hubbub of downtown Petoskey and should not be missed if you love playing sports!
