In early September, The Skatepark Project held a Back to School gear giveaway and event at The Brooklyn Banks in partnership with the Super Skate Posse, Vans, Gumball 3000 Foundation, and community-based group Gotham Park!
One hundred kids received free skateboards, helmets, Vans shoes, and tote bags filled with fun items and school supplies. The day featured skate lessons from pros, yoga for skaters, and a whole lot of stoke.
TSP recently met up with Katon Black at Roderick Sawyer Skatepark in Hyde Park, Chicago, IL to talk about the importance of public skateparks and the impact they have on youth and so much more!
The Skatepark Project isn’t just committed to supporting the creation of public skateparks, it’s working to promote greater access to outdoor recreation, free play, and community building which has been shown to benefit physical and mental health and well-being.
Free public skateparks are a long-term, low-maintenance solution for fostering active, happy, and purposeful youth. These recreational facilities provide a space for kids to connect and enjoy the sport they love while learning essential life skills, like determination and resilience.
As the champion of quality public skateparks, The Skatepark Project is a trusted resource for guidance, financial support, and information essential for building technically sound skateparks that serve the unique needs of each community and prioritize the input of youth advocates, skatepark users, and community members.
In the wake of Tyre Nichols’ murder earlier this year, community has come together in record-time to do great things in his name. His local Sacramento skatepark is being rebuilt with his designs and named in his honor.
Because of Tyre’s infectious energy and impact, his community will have an amazing space to skate for decades to come. Thanks to Grassroots Law Project, Tyre Nichols Foundation, Tyre’s close friends and family, City of Sacramento, Council member Lisa Kaplan’s office, Vans, CA Skateparks and everyone who helped make his dream park a reality!
To learn more about the Tyre Nichols Memorial Fund to support this park and another in Memphis, TN being built in his honor click HERE.
The Warm Springs Skatepark, located in the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, OR is a true example of the power of community efforts to rebuild the only skatepark in the Warm Springs area.
The existing park on the reservation was unsafe and inadequate for the community and in such disrepair that local kids had been hitchhiking to the nearest skatepark, which was miles away and outside of the reservation. With new elements added to the cherished skate spot, the refurbished park will provide indigenous youth with a safe space to be active and build community around the sport of skateboarding.
Following the murder of Tyre Nichols, hundreds of requests were received to honor Tyre’s life and legacy by creating a skatepark in his name. Please visit TyreSkateparkMemorial.com to learn more about the Tyre Nichols Memorial Skatepark Fund and to show your support!
In this skatepark stories, local NY skater Jiro Platt talks about growing up in the lower east side of New York City and the important role public skateparks play in providing individuals a place to meet up with friends and practice their craft.
LES Skatepark is Jiro’s home park where he recently met up with TSP’s Executive Director and other TSP staff, to do an interview for a New York Times article.
Jordyn Barratt shares how a skatepark being built in her town is the reason why she started skating. Jordyn shares how public skateparks can provide opportunities for kids to practice on the same obstacles the pros are skating in contests from the X Games to the Olympics, and how everyone regardless of age, gender or race are always welcome!
It’s always exciting to see innovative solutions to the need for skate space. The City of San Francisco and local skate advocates converted existing, underutilized public space into a world class street plaza for a fraction of the cost of a traditional public skatepark. Waller St is a win for skate space advocates everywhere!
The Skatepark Project is seeking out stroies to hear how skateboarding has affected your life in a meaningful way. Through individual testimonials from all walks of life, they will highlight the vast reach skateboarding has in our culture and all the many ways it enriches and empowers us to push father. Click HERE to submit yours today!
Vallarta Skate Project was formed by a passionate skateboarding community in 2016 with the initiative to promote the sport and give young people the opportunity to develop motor skills, emotional security and self-expression in a positive way. Since then, they’ve designed and built fun skate elements all throughout Puerto Vallarta, have hosted events for children, and continue to transform negative perspectives that locals may have about skateboarding.
For this project, Vallarta Skate Project built the Rio-mar Skate Connection, consisting of new skate ramps placed along the Pitillal River Path in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. They also threw an opening party for locals to experience their new skate park, and become a part of their community.