He’s a mason by trade, and a skater for life.

One look at Josh Schaeffer’s hand-built skate park says it all.

Schaeffer built a 6,500-square-foot skate park - with more to come - in the backyard behind his home at 901 Beaver Run Dr. in Mahoning Township.

It features ramps, along with a brick oven to make pizzas.

A skateboard lover since his teenage years, Schaeffer said he began putting the skate park together in 2016.

“I built it in my backyard for the community to use,” Schaeffer said. “When you mix masonry with (skateboarding), this is what you get.”

Schaeffer said he tries to hold three events a year at the site, most recently May 19-21.

“It’s like a camp-out,” he said. “I encourage everybody to use it, see the culture, see what we do.”

Schaeffer said he built it out of concrete, re-bar, a lot of wire, and “blood, sweat and tears.”

He tied it in to his OntheGrind Association, which was started in 2017.

“I use it to make a lot of changes,” he said. “The way the park is designed; not every kid wants a slide.”

Schaeffer said they renovate parks, such as Willing Park in Tamaqua.

“We don’t make any money; we take donations that goes toward park renovations,” he said. “We like to generate our own money, and teach kids it’s not going to come to you.”

Schaeffer said the skate park is open for children and adults to use, and added it provides another alternative to get kids from constantly playing their video games.

Josh’s wife, Jen Schaeffer, said there were a lot of kids who have visited the skate park who never skateboarded, and left ending up wanting to skate.

Josh said he’s extremely proud of his work.

“There’s not a lot of these do it yourself (skate parks),” he said. “We try to do anything we can to help the community and (teach them about) our culture.”

Schaeffer said his passion for skateboarding began when he was 13.

“I love the culture,” he said. “Getting on this piece of wood, you forget about everything.”

Schaeffer added that he also loves the fact there are no rules in skateboarding.

“I’m an adrenaline junkie,” he said. “Adrenaline shouldn’t be pushed away; it should be taught, not feared.”

Schaeffer said he would like to eventually hold monthly meetings at the skate park for those who experienced loss, or down and out, even homeless.

“I want them to feel the vibe,” he said. “You might heal somebody, save a life.”

By 15, Schaeffer was homeless. At one point he was depressed, turned to drugs and attempted suicide.

“You have to find yourself before you heal yourself,” he said. “We’re real people, (and it’s about) helping you understand.”

Schaeffer and Jen have two sons, a daughter, and a grandson.

But for Schaeffer, the skate park also has a personal family touch.

His brother, Jestin Schaeffer, was also a skater, before he passed away in 2018 at the age of 33.

Josh said he built a ramp, called the Coffin Doorway, in Jestin’s honor.

“He helped me design it (the skate park) from the start,” he said. “He’s here.”