Lauridsen Skatepark in Des Moines, Iowa is now the biggest skatepark in the USA. The skatepark which opened on May 7th, 2021, is a whopping 88,000 square feet and was designed and built by legendary skatepark builders, California Skateparks.
California Skateparks are responsible for some of the best skateparks in California such as Stoner Skate Plaza and Lake Cunningham Skatepark, as well as Arizona’s most popular skatepark, Tinnell Memorial Skatepark.
They said the design inspiration for Lauridsen Skatepark was gathered from plazas and architecture found around the world but also heavily influenced by the existing topography of the skatepark’s waterfront location. For example, the snake run reflects the powerful currents of the river and riding the feature resembles the flow of water at high speeds.
The design of Lauridsen Skateparkpark takes into consideration beginner and experienced skateboarders but also keeps spectators in mind by incorporating a pedestrian walkway and several viewing areas.
Lauridsen Skatepark has the ability to host a variety of events including demos, competitions, and concerts. In fact, opening day was celebrated by hosting the 2021 Dew Tour, the only U.S. skateboarding Olympic qualifying event!
The event saw over three hundred professional skateboarders shredding the new skatepark from the 20th to the 23rd of May, which has helped put Iowa on the map as a skateboarding destination.
The new 6.1 million dollar skatepark is centrally located at the north end of Principle Riverwalk alongside the Des Moines River. The address is 901 2nd Avenue, Des Moines, and hours of operation are between 6am and 10:30pm.
(Cover Photo: Mike Gustafson)
Lauridsen Skatepark’s Design & Features
Lauridsen Skatepark has more than 88,000 square feet of skate-able terrain with several areas consisting of a park course, street course, a skate promenade, an amoeba pool, a flow bowl, and even a skate-able ‘WOW’ sculpture.
In addition, the skatepark has competition level sixteen stair and four-flat-four-stair set, a snake run, plus dozens of hips, banks, and ledges located around the perimeter of the park. Yes, this place has just about every skateboarding obstacle known to man!
The public can watch skateboarders from a large spectator park located along Second Avenue which features a switchback trail.
The Park Course
The park course design is consistent with professional level course venues like those that host the Vans Park Series world tour and is capable of hosting amateur and world-class professional events.
The depth range is five to ten feet and contains hips extensions, escalators, layback walls, gaps, rails, transfers, elevation changes, pipe coping, pool coping, and pool tile.
The Street Course
The street course features ten ledge types including straight, out, banked, hubba, and down ledges, along with eleven rail types including, flat, down, out, round and square. If you like stairs they have them too. There are four different stair sets, and an array of banks, gaps, hips, and transfer lines.
The Skate Promenade
At nearly a quarter-mile in length, the skate promenade is a one-of-a-kind skate park element and is one of the most iconic features of the Lauridsen Skatepark. The promenade is 38-feet wide and populated with street skating features and open space. It utilizes the previously existing Riverfront Road’s footprint.
Some of the features you’ll find on the skate promenade include cantilevered quarter pipes, mini-ramp, beginner street section, curbs, banks, hipped-banks, flat-rails, bump-to-bump, A-frame rail, ledge-gap, mailbox-curb, out-ledges, out-rail, banked ledges, manual-pad, and pump-bumps.
Amoeba Pool
Details of the amoeba pool are as follows: five to ten foot shallow end, eight to six foot deep end, pool coping, and pool tile.
Flow Bowl
The flow bowl is a junior-sized park course designed to promote skill progression for beginning and intermediate transition skaters while allowing for advanced skaters to practice more technical transition skating.
The depth ranges from four to seven feet and has hips, extensions, escalators, spine, pump-bump, layback walls, transfers, elevation changes, pipe coping, pool coping, and pool tile.
Skateable Art Feature
The WOW skate-able art feature is located within the southern portion of the promenade and is constructed of a ¾ inch thick steel plate that is 84-feet long, four feet wide, and twelve feet tall.
Each letter of the word allows for various skateboarding opportunities that can occur independently or in conjunction with skateboarding elements along the promenade. But please try not to hurt yourself here.
As you can see, Lauridsen Skatepark has both street and park elements, and is suitable for all levels of skateboarders from beginners through to advanced. This skatepark is so loaded with obstacles that both street skaters and transition skaters are not going to know what to do with themselves here.
There is no doubt this place is going to attract skateboarders from all over the country. Even professional skateboarder Mike Vallely calls Des Moines home these days and is running his skateboard company Street Plant from here.
Whether you’re a skateboarder or not, Lauridsen Skatepark needs to be on your Iowa bucket list because it is such an incredible asset to the state.
Things To See In Des Moines
Subsect Skate Shop
Subsect is the only skater owned and operated skate shop in Des Moines. They have everything you need to stay rolling on your skateboard including decks from Heroin, Street Plant, Anti Hero, Toy Machine, Creature, Santa Cruz, and more. Trucks and wheels are an important part of any set-up and you will find the best from Independent, Ace, Spitfire, and Ricta (just to name a few). Shoes, clothes, bearings, and all other skateboarding accessories are also available.
SUBSECT SKATE SHOP
Hours: 11am – 7pm (Sunday 12pm – 4pm)
Address: 09 East Walnut Street, Des Moines IA
Downtown Farmers Market
The Des Moines Downtown Saturday Farmers Market runs from May 1 to October 30 and provides fresh produce, meat, cheese, eggs, baked goods, plants, flowers, artisan food, handmade art, and more. The market has been running for over 40 years so you know you’re in good hands. There is also entertainment in the form of live music and street performers throughout the day. Fuel up on some tasty goodness here before hitting the skatepark!
DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET
Hours: 7am – noon
Address: Historic Court District
Where To Stay In Des Moines
Des Moines offers a variety of accommodation whether you are a skateboarder on a budget or if your are looking for something that will suit the whole family. Use the search bar below to find hotel rooms for your trip.
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