Skateboarding made its Olympic debut at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and it’s never been more popular. Not only can kids and adults of all ages skate, but it also doesn’t take a lot of expensive equipment to do it.
If you’re a skater, you need to check out some (or all!) of the best skateparks in the country. Read on for our list.
1. Burnside Skatepark in Portland, OR
Burnside Skatepark was created in 1990 and over the past 30+ years, it’s been featured in magazines and video games. It’s considered a classic skatepark and has wall rides, quarter pipes, bowls, and plenty of bumps.
It receives no public funding, so it is totally maintained by volunteers and donations and has remained free and open to all skaters.
2. Vans Skatepark in Orange, CA
Vans decided to expand their shoe empire and try their hand at a skatepark in 1999. The Vans Skatepark in Orange, CA is a great place to go if you want to see veteran skateboarders and try out the Upland combi-bowl or a wooden street course.
3. Skate Lab in Atlantic Beach, FL
The Skate Lab has been around since 1997 and is one of the best (if not the) best skatepark in the state of Florida. It has plenty of ramps, jumps, and rails and is a challenge to even the most experienced skaters. It’s got indoor and outdoor areas, so if it’s hot and humid in Florida, head inside.
4. Rob Dyrdek/DC Shoes Foundation Skate Plaza in Kettering, OH
This park is different from a traditional skatepark in that it’s designed to look like a public square. It has landscaping and art and has lots of urban elements, such as benches, vertical ramps, and ledges. It was designed by Rob Dyrdek, who is a former pro skateboarder, and DC Shoes.
5. FDR Skatepark, Philadelphia, PA
FDR Skatepark in Philly was created by skateboarders for other skateboarders. It’s located on an unused piece of land that was a part of FDR Park under an overpass of I-95 and has a 4-foot dome and 60-foot long bunker.
It was created with donated materials by volunteers and it’s still that way today. Volunteers work to add new features to the park and it’s also used as a venue for the arts.
If you want to learn more about the positive impact on skateboarding, good tweets from @Skaterbating highlight awesome moves and skateparks you need to add to your bucket list.
Best Skateparks for Your Bucket List
Whether you’re a veteran skater or a newbie, you need to check out at least one of these best skateparks in the country. Toss your board in your suitcase the next time you head out on a trip and try out a skatepark in a new location. There are great parks all over the country, so even if you can’t hit these up, don’t be afraid to explore a new city.
If you found this list helpful, be sure to check out some of our other lifestyle and travel articles.
