Ten important skateboard spots in Spokane, WA
1. Hillyard Skatepark
Located in the Hillyard neighborhood, Hillyard Skatepark is one of Spokane’s largest and most well-known skateparks. Spanning over 10,000 square feet, this park is packed with a wide range of obstacles, including bowls, quarter pipes, rails, and a dedicated street course. The park’s smooth concrete surface and thoughtful layout make it an excellent spot for both beginners and advanced skaters.
One of the standout features of Hillyard Skatepark is its large, deep bowl, which draws experienced transition skaters looking to practice their flow and bowl riding. The street section offers ledges, manual pads, and stairs, providing ample opportunities for technical street tricks. The park’s size and diverse features make it a popular spot among local skaters and a must-visit for anyone passing through Spokane.
Key Features:
- Large, deep bowl and street course
- Quarter pipes, rails, and stairs
- Smooth concrete for seamless skating
- Ideal for all skill levels
2. Under the Freeway Skatepark (UTF)
Under the Freeway Skatepark, known locally as UTF, is a unique skate spot located beneath Interstate 90, offering shelter from Spokane’s unpredictable weather. This community-built park has a gritty, DIY vibe, with a mix of concrete ramps, ledges, and transitions. The park has been a staple of Spokane’s skateboarding culture for years, attracting skaters who appreciate its raw, urban aesthetic.
UTF’s layout includes several quarter pipes, a pyramid, and a series of manual pads and ledges, giving skaters plenty of space to practice both street and transition-style tricks. Because of its covered location, UTF is particularly popular during the rainy season, allowing skaters to enjoy sessions year-round.
Key Features:
- Community-built, DIY park
- Mix of ramps, ledges, and transitions
- Covered spot, ideal for all-weather skating
- Gritty, urban atmosphere
3. Coeur d’Alene Skatepark
Located just across the border in nearby Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, this skatepark is a favorite for Spokane skaters who are willing to make the short drive for a top-tier experience. The Coeur d’Alene Skatepark is a massive, professionally designed park featuring a variety of obstacles for both street and transition skaters. The park includes a large flow bowl, stair sets, rails, and a street section with ledges and manual pads.
One of the standout features of this park is its flow bowl, which allows skaters to maintain speed and rhythm while carving through its smooth transitions. The street section is perfect for skaters looking to work on technical tricks, with a well-designed layout that encourages creativity. Its proximity to Spokane makes it a popular weekend destination for local skaters.
Key Features:
- Large flow bowl and street section
- Rails, stairs, and ledges
- Smooth, professional design
- Popular destination for Spokane skaters
4. Riverfront Park
Riverfront Park, located in the heart of downtown Spokane, is a well-known spot among street skaters. The park itself is not a dedicated skatepark, but its urban layout offers a variety of features that skaters have adopted for street skating. The smooth walkways, ledges, stair sets, and handrails scattered throughout the park provide endless opportunities for creative street skating.
The park’s location along the Spokane River makes it a scenic place to skate, and it’s not uncommon to see skaters cruising through the park or practicing tricks on the various ledges and stair sets. While skating here is unofficial, it has become a popular spot for street skaters who enjoy the challenge of skating in a real-world environment.
Key Features:
- Smooth walkways, ledges, and handrails
- Urban street-skating environment
- Scenic location along the Spokane River
- Popular with local street skaters
5. Dwight Merkel Sports Complex Skatepark
Dwight Merkel Sports Complex is a large, multi-use sports facility in Spokane that also features a professionally designed skatepark. The skatepark has a range of obstacles, including a large bowl, quarter pipes, rails, and a street course with manual pads and stairs. Its smooth concrete and well-thought-out design make it an excellent choice for skaters of all levels.
The park is known for its spacious layout, allowing skaters to move freely without feeling crowded. The street course is particularly popular, with ledges and stairs that mimic real-world street skating environments. Dwight Merkel Skatepark is a go-to spot for Spokane skaters looking for a clean, well-maintained park with plenty of space to practice.
Key Features:
- Large bowl, street course, and transition areas
- Rails, stairs, and manual pads
- Smooth concrete and spacious layout
- Suitable for all skill levels
6. Joe Albi Skatepark
Joe Albi Skatepark is another popular skateboarding destination in Spokane, known for its wide variety of features. The park includes several bowls, quarter pipes, rails, and a street section with ledges and stairs. Its design caters to both transition skaters and street skaters, offering a good mix of obstacles to keep sessions interesting.
One of the park’s highlights is its combination of shallow and deep bowls, making it a great place for skaters to practice their bowl-riding skills. The street section offers plenty of opportunities for technical tricks, with manual pads, rails, and a stair set that challenge skaters to get creative. Joe Albi Skatepark’s clean design and range of features make it a favorite among local skaters.
Key Features:
- Shallow and deep bowls
- Quarter pipes, rails, and street section
- Ledges, stairs, and manual pads
- Great for both street and transition skaters
7. Shadle Skate Spot
Shadle Skate Spot is a smaller neighborhood skatepark located in the Shadle Park area of Spokane. While not as large as some of the other parks in the city, Shadle Skate Spot offers a solid mix of ramps, rails, and ledges, making it a great spot for local skaters looking for a low-key place to skate.
The park’s compact layout is perfect for beginners and intermediate skaters who are still developing their skills. The park is well-maintained, and its friendly, laid-back atmosphere makes it a favorite among younger skaters and those looking for a quieter session.
Key Features:
- Small neighborhood skatepark
- Ramps, rails, and ledges
- Ideal for beginners and intermediate skaters
- Low-key, friendly environment
8. Liberty Park
Liberty Park is a historic park in Spokane that offers a variety of features for skaters looking for an urban street-skating experience. While not an official skatepark, the park’s smooth paths, low curbs, and stair sets have made it a popular spot for street skaters. The park’s open layout allows skaters to cruise or set up lines using the various urban features.
Liberty Park is known for its relaxed atmosphere and scenic views, making it a great spot for casual skating. Skaters often use the park’s benches and low walls for grinds and slides, and its central location makes it easily accessible for local skaters looking for a quick session.
Key Features:
- Smooth paths, curbs, and stair sets
- Benches and low walls for street tricks
- Relaxed, scenic park environment
- Popular with local street skaters
9. Northtown Mall Parking Lot
The Northtown Mall parking lot has become an unofficial skate spot for Spokane’s street skaters, offering a range of urban features that are perfect for technical tricks. The large, open parking lot has smooth pavement, stair sets, ledges, and curbs that have been adopted by skaters for grinds, slides, and manuals.
While not an official skate spot, the Northtown Mall parking lot is popular due to its urban environment and variety of obstacles. Skaters should be mindful of pedestrians and mall security, but it’s a go-to spot for those looking for a real-world street-skating experience.
Key Features:
- Large, open parking lot with smooth pavement
- Ledges, curbs, and stair sets
- Unofficial skate spot popular with street skaters
- Urban environment perfect for technical tricks
10. Audubon Park
Audubon Park is a peaceful, family-friendly park in Spokane that has become an informal skate spot for local skaters. The park features smooth concrete paths, low curbs, and open spaces that are great for cruising and practicing flat-ground tricks. Skaters often repurpose the park’s benches and curbs for street-style tricks, making it a great place for casual sessions.
Audubon Park’s laid-back atmosphere and scenic surroundings make it a popular choice for skaters looking to enjoy a relaxed session in a natural setting. The park’s open layout is perfect for younger skaters or beginners who are still working on their skills.
Key Features:
- Smooth concrete paths and low curbs
- Benches and curbs for street tricks
- Laid-back, family-friendly environment
- Ideal for beginners and casual skaters
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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