Ten important skateboard spots in Lakewood, California
1. Lakewood Skatepark
Location: 150 S Kipling Pkwy, Lakewood, CO 80226
Lakewood Skatepark is a premier spot for skateboarding in the city and serves as a central hub for local skaters. It’s situated within the expansive William Frederick Hayden Park, offering a perfect balance between scenic beauty and street-style terrain. Designed with input from professional skaters, this park caters to various skateboarding styles, including street, vert, and transition.
The park features smooth concrete surfaces, quarter pipes, a pyramid with a rail, ledges, a funbox, and a bowl. Its diversity of obstacles allows skaters to practice different tricks, from basic ollies to more advanced maneuvers like grinding on rails or catching air out of the bowl. Lakewood Skatepark’s spacious layout provides room for both beginners and pros to coexist, making it the number one spot in Lakewood for skating.
2. Bear Creek Skatepark
Location: 2800 S Estes St, Lakewood, CO 80227
Tucked into the beautiful Bear Creek Lake Park, this skate spot provides a more laid-back atmosphere compared to some of the busier skate parks in the area. Bear Creek Skatepark offers a clean and inviting environment for skaters who want to mix up their routine with some nature.
The park itself is smaller in scale but well-designed, featuring smooth transitions, a mini-ramp, and multiple quarter pipes. There are also ledges and rails perfect for practicing grinds and slides. The highlight here is the flow and organic lines that allow skaters to build speed without much effort. Its setting, away from the hustle of the city, makes it a peaceful and enjoyable place for skaters to hone their skills.
3. Carmody Park Skate Spot
Location: 2200 S Kipling St, Lakewood, CO 80227
Carmody Park isn’t just known for its sports fields and swimming pools—it also has a compact yet challenging skate spot that’s popular with the local skate community. This park features basic obstacles that are ideal for beginners while still providing a fun experience for more advanced skaters.
The main features include a small half-pipe, grind rails, a couple of ledges, and a mini ramp. Although it’s not the largest skate spot in Lakewood, its simplicity and easy accessibility make it a favorite for those who live nearby and want a quick session. It's a great place to perfect your basics, especially if you’re a beginner or intermediate skater.
4. Green Mountain Recreation Center Skate Spot
Location: 13198 W Green Mountain Dr, Lakewood, CO 80228
Next to the Green Mountain Recreation Center, you’ll find a small skate area that is a hidden gem for local skaters. It’s not as well-known as some of the bigger skateparks in Lakewood, which can be an advantage if you’re looking for a quieter place to practice.
The park is equipped with a few ramps, rails, and ledges that are perfect for street skaters looking to practice flips, grinds, and slides. Its smaller size means it’s never too crowded, making it a great spot for beginners to learn new tricks without the pressure of a busy crowd. The nearby recreation center offers additional amenities, such as restrooms and water fountains, which is a bonus.
5. Ray Ross Park
Location: 680 S Harlan St, Lakewood, CO 80226
Ray Ross Park is more than just a neighborhood park; it’s a low-key skateboarding destination that offers some unexpected features for skaters. While it doesn't have a dedicated skatepark, the park’s architecture offers plenty of natural obstacles, including ledges, manual pads, and a couple of small sets of stairs.
Skaters here take advantage of the smooth sidewalks and open spaces to create their own lines and practice flatground tricks. It’s a popular spot for skaters who prefer street-style skating over structured skate parks. Ray Ross Park is also an excellent place for skaters who like to film, as the lighting and natural elements of the park create a visually appealing backdrop.
6. Belmar Downtown Area
Location: 464 S Teller St, Lakewood, CO 80226
Belmar is a popular commercial and residential area in Lakewood, and it also happens to be a prime urban skate spot. With its modern architecture, open spaces, and abundance of ledges, stairs, and rails, skaters can find plenty of spots to session without having to head to a traditional skatepark.
The smooth concrete plazas around the shopping areas are perfect for flatground tricks, and the varied urban terrain provides ample opportunity for more creative skaters to craft their own lines. However, it’s essential to keep in mind that Belmar is a public space, so skaters should be mindful of pedestrians and security to avoid getting kicked out.
7. Bear Creek Greenbelt Trails
Location: 2950 S Kipling Pkwy, Lakewood, CO 80227
For skateboarders who enjoy a bit of adventure, the Bear Creek Greenbelt offers a scenic route with paved trails ideal for longboarding and cruising. These smooth trails wind through scenic landscapes, including creeks, grassy meadows, and wooded areas, offering an escape from the typical concrete jungle of the city.
This spot is perfect for downhill skating and carving due to the gentle slopes found throughout the trails. While it’s not the place to hit technical tricks, it provides an excellent opportunity for longboarders and cruisers to enjoy the beauty of nature while skating.
8. Union Square Park
Location: 1875 Union St, Lakewood, CO 80228
Union Square Park is a small community park that offers more than just playgrounds and picnic areas—it also doubles as a casual skate spot for locals. Skaters frequent this park for its smooth sidewalks and natural street elements, such as ledges, curbs, and a few stair sets.
Though it doesn't have a designated skatepark, the open space and well-maintained paths make it a popular spot for practicing street skating. It’s also a peaceful area, meaning you won’t be dealing with large crowds or heavy foot traffic while skating.
9. Addenbrooke Park
Location: 600 S Kipling Pkwy, Lakewood, CO 80226
Addenbrooke Park is another neighborhood park in Lakewood that skaters have adopted as a local favorite. With wide-open spaces and smooth pathways, it's a prime spot for longboarding, cruising, and flatground tricks. Additionally, there are several ledges and manual pads around the park’s perimeter that can be used creatively by street skaters.
What sets Addenbrooke apart is its location near the lake, which provides a scenic and relaxing environment for a chill skate session. While it’s not known for any major obstacles, it’s a great spot to enjoy a relaxed ride and soak in the natural beauty of Lakewood.
10. Heritage Center Skate Spot
Location: 801 S Yarrow St, Lakewood, CO 80226
The Heritage Center is a cultural hub in Lakewood, and surprisingly, it’s also home to a small but dedicated skate spot. The surrounding area offers unique architecture with ledges, stairs, and open plazas that are perfect for street skating. It’s a favorite among local skaters who enjoy a more creative approach to street skating, using the urban landscape as their playground.
Skateboarding is tribal and most locals are welcoming, but if you're new to a spot, or just passing through, have respect for the locals. Listen. Be smart. Have fun.
A human being
Art can change the world – and everybody is an artist. Those who scribble stickmen. Those who paint chapel ceilings. Those who tattoo biceps. Those who are careful with pigment on canvas. Those who create fantasy characters. Those who paint pet portraits. Those who yarn bomb. Those who write poems on crappy old cardboard.
My art lives on the bottom of skateboard decks. It's designed for you to destroy. For you, the rider, my art may come second to the deck’s ability to perform – and that’s awesome. To me, art comes first. Always.
It’s how I think. It’s who I am. It’s what I am.
A machine
This article has been created with the help of artificial intelligence platforms ChatGPT and Bard. If there are inaccuracies or there are opportunities for improvement, please let me know.
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