Skateboard Workshop at Roberto Clemente Park

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to skateboard, but have been nervous to try at a skate park…this one’s for you! Explore the community-powered skateboard park at Roberto Clemente Park with Friends of Grand Rapids Parks and Chris Gray (Graytones) to learn skateboarding fundamentals, sweet park history, and make some art. No skateboard? No problem. All the gear you need to learn how to skate will be provided, including helmets, skateboards, and pads.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Event Activities: 

• Learn-to-skate fundamentals: Balance, push-off, and more
• Learn-to build: Learn how to pour a block of concrete and the history of Roberto Clemente Park
• Skate art activity for kids

Skateboarding is for Everyone
Here’s some lore about the skate park at Roberto Clemente—it was designed and built by the community. It’s colloquially known as “DIY Skate Park” because people came together to make a place to skate happen. We’re bringing that energy to this skating workshop—everyone who wants to be on a board should be on a board, and if it’s your first time, we’ll teach you how. 

About Our Event Partners
Chris Gray, Graytone and Premier Skate Shop Since 2010, Chris has coordinated and helped plan skateparks in Grand Rapids, including leading the creation and construction of Clemente DIY, a community built skatepark in Roberto Clemente Park. Chris is a veteran Grand Rapids resident, design graduate of Kendall College, and Art Director at the local retail skate shop, Premier. In his free time he likes to skate with his two daughters, fish local lakes and streams, and walk or bike on our local trail systems.

GR Outside provides outdoor recreation equipment, training, and trip support to schools and youth-focused groups in Grand Rapids. We believe access to nature is essential to the health and well-being of young people in our city, and our goal is to promote equitable, safe, and fun experiences for the groups we support. GR Outside is a division of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation and has been serving the community since 2021.

We 🫶 Exploring Our Parks with You

You belong out here! We have an incredible park system in Grand Rapids, and want our community to have the tools they need to get outside, explore your parks, and find a new passion. Our community events bring together community members and local experts so you can learn something new: whether that’s a hobby, information about the natural world, or finding your new favorite park.