Explore Your Parks: Skate & Build Demo

At our 2024 skateboarding & concrete building workshop, we had over 75 participants join us to enjoy exploring Clemente DIY Skatepark, located in Roberto Clemente Park. This Explore Your Parks workshop was in partnership with Premier and Chill Foundation. The skating lessons and concrete build demo were led by Chris Gray, Art Director at Premier and chair of the Clemente Skate Park Committee, and skateboards and safety equipment were provided by GR Outside and Chill Foundation. We were excited to see such a broad range of ages, from 3-40 years old, learning how to skate, learning the process of how to build with concrete, and celebrating this community-built skatepark.

You can learn more about skating and concrete building at the links below!

(Photography: Tiffany Fant / Mo’Photography LLC)

Where to skate in Grand Rapids:

  • Clemente DIY Skatepark
  • Westtown Commons
  • 555 Monroe

For those looking to adventure beyond Grand Rapids, there are more parks worth visiting scattered throughout Michigan, including Lowell, Belding, Grand Haven, Holland, Lansing, Charlotte, Traverse City, and many more!

Recommended gear: (Learn more: ‘Essential Skateboarding Equipment for Beginners’ from Skateboards.com)

  • Skateboard (classic, longboard, or cruiser board)
  • Helmet
  • Knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist protection

To learn more about beginner skateboarding techniques, check out these videos:

About Community Skateparks & Concrete Building:

Clemente DIY is a community-built skatepark created through collaboration between local skate communities rather than being built solely by professional designers.

To find out how to get involved on Clemente builds, follow @diyclemente on instagram. Always communicate before trying to build, as all constructed features must meet a certain quality and safety line that’s approved by their group. Future community build days will always be posted there and you can get involved and learn some of the trade skills on-site during those days.

To learn more about concrete building basics, check out the links below:

(Photography: @diyclemente on Instagram)