Skateparks Expand the Use of Your Local Parks
Many urban and suburban communities lack all ages outdoor recreation spaces. Re-purposing underused land as a skate park can have vast community benefits, providing a safe and accessible space for children, teens, and adults to come together and enjoy a shared activity.
Aside from being good physical fitness, skating is an activity that can be enjoyed by all ages (it is not uncommon to see my middle-aged neighbor or his adult children skateboarding in their driveway). Skateparks lend themselves to all skill levels and are great places to encourage socialization among children and healthy mentorship between generations. Additionally, skating has a low monetary investment; deciding to explore the hobby doesn’t mean buying tons of specialized equipment upfront.
Free public skate parks provide a place for all levels of skaters, from beginner to advanced level. All skaters can make friends and have a sense of community and belonging that transfers to any park they visit, worldwide.
—Heidi Lemmon for National Recreation and Park Association, October 2022
Aside from the obvious benefits of having a safe place to relax and practice a fun hobby, working towards the common goal of building a park can create new connections throughout the area. Skateparks can be a wonderful way to expand the use of a city’s parks system, providing activities for kids and adults as they age out of the more typical playgrounds.
Skate Raleigh aims to bring these benefits to more places in Raleigh and the surrounding area. If you’re interested in getting involved, sign up for our newsletter and consider a donation if you can.
