Skateboarding has exploded in popularity across the United States in recent years and has drawn millions of new participants nationwide. However there is still many communities lacking a dedicated public skatepark which forces skateboarders to make do with makeshift DIY setups and skating in unauthorized areas.

If you and your fellow skaters have been dreaming of a safe, legal place to hone your skills but you’re unsure how to get a skatepark built in your community then you’re in luck. It’s absolutely possible to get a skatepark built in your town or city. If you’re persistent, creative, and have the right game plan you can be successful in getting a public skatepark built.

Steps To Get A Skatepark Built In Your Community

1. Demonstrate The Need For A Skatepark

The first step is to demonstrate the demand and need for a skatepark in your area. Start by gathering signatures on a petition showing widespread support from local skaters, BMX riders, parents, and community leaders. Reach out to your city’s parks department or municipal government and present them with data on the number of active skaters in the community and the lack of appropriate facilities for them. Make the case that a dedicated skatepark would provide a positive outlet for youth, promote healthy and active lifestyles, and enhance the quality of life in the neighborhood.

2. Research Skatepark Designs, Locations, and Budgets

The next thing you’ll need to do is research potential skatepark designs, locations, and a suitable budget. It can be helpful to look into successful skateparks in nearby cities and get a sense of the types of features, scale, and price tags that were involved. Identify potential sites can be hard but if you can find somewhere centrally located, highly visible, and safe it will maximize usage and hopefully gain even more community support.

Consulting with experienced skatepark designers to determine the optimal layout, equipment, and flow that meets the needs of your local skateboarding community. Many design firms actually offer free consultations to help get projects off the ground.

3. Build Community Support For Your Skatepark Proposal

One of the biggest key factors to the success of getting your skatepark project off the ground is building a broad base of community support. Try reaching out to local youth organizations, schools, parks departments, businesses, and civic leaders to get them on board with the idea. We highly recommend attending city council meetings, community forums, and other public events to advocate for the skatepark and rally support.

If there are any local well-known sportsmen or sportswoman in your community it is a good stroke of business to get their support whether they’re an influential community figure or passionate skateboarder themselves. These public figures can usually help shepherd the project through the often bureaucratic approval process. The more people you can get excited about and invested in the skatepark, the better your chances of success.

4. Getting Funding For Your Skatepark Project

Now this might not come as a shock but funding is the biggest hurdle for most skatepark initiatives. Doing your research on potential grants, fundraising opportunities, and municipal budgets that could contribute to the costs is the best way to secure funds. Get creative with community-driven fundraising events, crowdsourcing campaigns, and partnerships with local your local businesses’. The more you can demonstrate broad community buy-in and support, the better your chances of securing public and private funding. Organizations such as The Skatepark Project provide grants to help communities build quality skateparks.

5. Planning and Permitting For Your Skatepark Project

The planning and permitting process for a new skatepark can take years of persistent effort, so it’s important to stay organized and keep the momentum going. Breaking the process down into clear, measurable goals helps to track your progress. Regularly communicate with city officials, community stakeholders, and your fellow skaters to maintain enthusiasm and engagement so people don’t forget or put your skatepark project on the back burner. Remember not to get discouraged by bureaucratic roadblocks or fundraising challenges as there will be a lot of them. However with dedication and creativity you can transform your vision into a reality that will serve skaters and the community for years to come.

Getting A Skatepark Built In Your Community Is Possible

Most successful skatepark projects often follow a similar playbook. For example, the planning for Nipomo Skatepark in California started twenty-years ago but it wasn’t until seven-years ago when local school teacher Tom Slater and students of his ‘skate club’ wanted to make their dream of having a skatepark a reality. Together Slater and his students along with other local skateboarders began the process of designing a skatepark.

How To Get A Skatepark Built In Your Community — Nipomo Skatepark, California

After achieving their desired design (which is amazing) and concept for the skatepark the group started moving their proposal through the local government channels and begin securing funding for the project which took five-years. Eventually the Nipomo Skatepark was approved by the county with a final price of $3.5 million. This is money well spent and the brand new skateboarding facility officially opened on May 6, 2023.

While the specifics may vary for each skatepark process the core elements of these successful skatepark projects are consistent. By demonstrating the need, building community support, securing funding, and staying persistent in the face of challenges has proven to be the formula that has yielded new skateparks in communities big and small across the United States.

Of course getting a skatepark built is the main objective but once the facility is open, it’s important to continue engaging the community. Consider forming a “friends of the skatepark” group to organize events, monitor usage, and advocate for ongoing upkeep and improvements. Reach out to local skate shops, nonprofits, and businesses to sponsor programming, contests, and other initiatives that keep the skatepark vibrant and well-utilized.

In the end, a successful skatepark project is about more than just concrete and steel. It’s about creating a shared community asset that promotes active lifestyles, empowers youth, and brings people together around a shared passion. By working collaboratively with local stakeholders and tapping into the energy of your local skateboarding community you can turn your dream of a world-class skatepark into a reality. So what are you waiting for? Get out there, start building support, and make it happen!

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