March
1976 – Carlsbad Skatepark, designed and built by
Jack Graham and John O'Malley, opens in northern San
Diego County, California. They also consult and design
a dozen skatepark projects including Concrete Wave in
Anaheim and Shady Acres in Long Beach. They publish
a skatepark builder’s guide, "Skatepark Development."
This is the beginning of the construction of skateparks
all over southern California, the U.S., and eventually
worldwide. (observed from Jim Goodrich's skate board
history, www.jimsdoghouse.com)
This skate park has been refered to as
the
"Cooperstown" of skateboarding.
Amazing Images
from 1976
This
skate park, Carlsbad Skate Park originally opened March
13, 1976 and is generally regarded as the first skateboard
park in the world.
This book features Carlsbad Skate Park
(Warren Bolster photographer)
While
skateboarding is a relatively new activity, this park
is of priceless historical value to the skateboarding
community and the world. According to USA Today, skateboarding
is the number one youth activity in the US.
Yesterday:
A recent book
featuring the old Skate Park, 1977 (The
"Legacy" / Warren Bolster)
Today:
It is buried here, still intact.
While
the park is almost entirely buried by dirt,
most of the park remains intact below the surface. Neglected
for 20 years, but not forgotten, debris is scattered
over this old skate park.
Tony
Shin of NBC channel 7/39 interviews David Bergthold
overlooking the old Carlsbad Skate Park, Oct.
15th, 2004
What
we envision as the future of the World¹s First
Skateboard Park:
Restoration
of original park and designation as historic site
Addition
of updated skate facility (street skate plaza, bowls/pools,
vert ramp)
Skateboarding
museum
An
historic and educational interactive experience.
Modern
photo and art exhibits
Office
space for skateboarding sanctioned bodies (IASC, USA
Skateboarding)
Meeting/
party facilities
Theater
area
Pro
Shop
We
want to save this skate park and make it usable once
again.
It is authentic, and has important historical
significance.
SkateBoarder
Magazine 1976
Featured Carlsbad Skate Park
