Today skateboarding is a world-wide sport. But up until the late 1990s, it was largely regarded as a hobby among counter-culture types. The first skate parks were developed in the late 1970s, mostly in California. Through the decades, skateboarding has had its ups and downs, but the net result is that there are now hundreds of parks across the world. These parks were developed in skateboarding’s distinct and varied eras, and this is reflected in each site’s construction. The following is a list of some of the most iconic skate parks of all time, some new, and some old:
Del Mar Skate Ranch: Del Mar, California.
From 1978 to 1987, Del Mar was widely considered the best skate park in the world. This legendary park is responsible for producing greats such as: Christian Hosoi, Mark ‘Gator’ Rogowksi, Tony Hawk, Danny Way and countless others. This park carried the distinction of surviving regardless of if the skate industry was in boom or bust. The park’s operations ended abruptly in the summer of 1987, when the land the park was located on was sold to a hotel developer, and within a month the park was closed.
Marseilles: Marseilles, France.
Not only is this park the most famous in France, Marseille is the most famous skate park in Europe. Often featured in magazine spreads (Natas Kapaus to Tom Penny) and in countless videos, it is one of the most iconic skate parks of all time. Known for it’s free-flowing lines and forgiving coping, Marseilles is a dream to skate for those that like transition.
Burnside: Portland, Or.
Burnside is not only one of the most famous parks of all time, it is has a great back story: it was erected without the approval of the city of Portland by the skate community, who paid for constructed it themselves. Several years after completion, because of its popularity, the city allowed it to remain standing. It has since become famous for having been featured in the Tony Hawk Pro Skater franchise. It should be noted that Burnside is one of the hardest parks to skate with intimidating lines, and gnarly locals.
Vans Skate Park: Orange, Ca.
Vans Skatepark, located in Orange, CA is one of the world’s premier indoor skate parks. Famous for its huge pools and endless options for skaters of all skill levels, the park also has vert in all shapes and sizes. Vans is also often featured in videos and is the host to many contests throughout the year – definitely worth visiting.
Woodward: Woodward, Ga.
Woodward Skate Park is the home of the eponymous world-class skate camp, and could better be referred to as a ‘skate land’. This world-class facility offers camps in other sports such as inline, BMX, and gymnastics, but its vert ramps are hailed as some of the world’s best. Watch fuel TV and try not to watch footage of skaters doing flips into the parks famous foam pits, or rubber landing trampoline.
Newberg: Newberg, Or.
Developed in the last decade’s skate park boom, Newberg is considered by most as the best outdoor skate park in the U.S., if not the world. This 30,000 square ft behemoth of a park has arguably any feature a skater could want, including the infamous ‘volcano’.
The Flow: Columbus, Oh.
The Flow is the Mid West’s largest skate park, at 40,000 square foot of street, vert, and quarter pipes, hubbas. This newer, indoor park has generated a lot of buzz in the skate industry in the last several years because of its pristine wood ramps and the selection of options available to skaters – the park features everything to 1 ft kicker ramps to 8ft over-vert. Already legendary, this park has singlehandedly produced a reason for going to Ohio.
Harrow: Harrow, London, UK.
Opened in 1978, The Harrow (located in London) is one of the world’s last remaining ‘shotcrete’ skate parks. This park was one of the more famous British parks in the 1980s, and has developed into more of a BMX park than anything in the last decade. The park’s blue pool is probably it’s most iconic feature. Recently, the park was almost shut down in October 2008 in order to build a town recreation center, but plans were abandoned once a group of London skaters united and petition to preserve the park.
Pipeline Skatepark: Upland, Ca.
Alongside Del Mar, Pipeline was one of the most famous U.S.-based parks in skateboarding’s glory days. The famous full-pipe was the first of its kind, and earned the park a lot of street cred among serious shredders. The aggressive design and fast vert lines made this park a standout. Interestingly, the park was shut down in 1988 with the decline of vert-skating, but was rebuilt in 2002 by a joint-venture, spearheaded by skateboarding legend Steve Alba.
Stockwell: Brixton, London, Uk.
Also known as ‘Brixton Bowls’, Stockwell is synonymous with London skateboarding. Opened in the late 1970s, Stockwell has been a favorite of skateboarders of every era and is famous for its flow, its graffiti and its safe, suburban setting. One of the best things about public skate parks in Britain is that they are always free, always open and pads/helmets are used at the skater’s discretion.
Skate Park of Tampa: Tampa, Fl.
SpoT needs no introduction. Every year, this park plays host to the Tampa Am and to the Tampa Pro, which are arguably the world’s most important contests for skaters in their respective classes. Opened in 1993, this park is already reached legendary status and will one day become known as the ‘Yankee Stadium of skateboarding’.
Carlsbad Skate Park: Carlsbad, Ca
Having only operated during 1976-1979, this short lived park is widely heralded as the world’s first skate park. There have been a efforts up until 2005 to rebuild this park – even though there is a modern day Carlsbad park – until the land was purchased, and ultimately developed during California’s most recent real estate boom. If nothing else, this park deserves mention for being a trailblazer.