Skating Into Riverside: Jacksonville's New Artist Walk Skatepark

Skating into riverside

Jacksonville’s

New Artist Walk

Skatepark

Words by Ambar Ramirez

Photos by Ambar Ramirez & Matt Oistacher

With a vision to connect historic Riverside and Brooklyn neighborhoods, the city partnered with leading skatepark builders — California Skateparks — to make that dream a reality. With a cost of $8 million and many months (and delays) later, the long-awaited Artist Walk Skate Park officially opened to the public on Aug. 8.

Open 24 hours, the six-acre public skatepark boasts a variety of creative obstacles and ramps, welcoming skaters of all skill levels to practice and play. At the entrance, three ramps spell out “JAX,” a vibrant tribute to the skatepark’s home, painted in bold blue, yellow and red — a burst of color echoed throughout the park. But this new space isn’t just for skaters. Surrounding the skateable area is a multi-use trail, dotted with patches of grass that offer spots for observers, walkers, runners and anyone looking for a place to simply hang out.

I arrived at the Artist Walk Skatepark, tucked beneath the towering Fuller Warren Bridge, on a sun-drenched late summer day. Unsure of where to park, I ended up taking a five-minute detour on foot, the sun beating down relentlessly even as I approached the shaded area beneath the overpass. The thick, humid air clung to my skin, leaving me sticky with sweat. But I wasn’t alone. Skaters from every corner of our Bold City—and even from other states—were already there, shredding the freshly installed ramps with relentless energy.

Darius Sibley has been skating for about 15 years now and before the Artist Walk Skatepark opened would frequent spots like a skatepark at Jacksonville Beach. Sibley noted how this newly installed skatepark is connecting communities not just within Jacksonville, but skaters from other cities and states. But what exactly sets this park apart from others?

“Just the energy that the skate park gives off, all the obstacles. There are endless things to skate for,” Sibley shared.

The excitement and energy at the public skatepark were palpable. Families made use of the paved walkway, some with scooters, others with strollers. Groups of friends lounged on the grassy patches, chatting over shared lunches while watching skaters try out new tricks. The only common complaint among skaters was the absence of bathrooms on sight.

Sitting on one of the many benches scattered throughout the park were local skaters Parker Hammond and Quentin Clark. Hammond has been skateboarding for about 14 years, Clark for 16, needless to say, both are familiar with the local skating scene. Since the grand opening of the skatepark, both shared that they hadn’t visited their usual skating spots (Jacksonville Beach and the streets).

“It’s just kind of, like, vastly different than anything we’ve ever had, especially here in Jacksonville. Considering it’s under the bridge, it stays completely dry and the lights are on for 24 hours. So you can literally skate it whenever you want,” Hammond said. “And it keeps us away from the heat too.”

“And it keeps you away from the rain,” Clark added.

On Aug. 10, the Artist Walk Skatepark hosted its inaugural event that promoted skaters to come show off their best tricks for a $2,000+ cash prize to kick off the opening of the park. And every third Sunday of the month, Lady Skate Day with Go Skate Jax will be at the park, continuing their project of promoting inclusivity and confidence among women in the skating community. Along with being an extension of RAM, the skatepark is planned to be home to many more events for the community.

“This park is a lot different than a normal skate park, I guess, because not only is it visually pleasing which makes the obstacles different, but it lets you be more creative with your skating,” Hammond shared.

“I think since it’s a new place to skate, it’s going to bring a lot of people that used to skate back in the day around. And also, it’s a good place for the young children to learn how to skate,” Clark added.