Lakewood Skate Park | Lakewood

The Lakewood Skate Park in Lakewood, New Jersey, is a recreational facility designed to provide skateboarders, inline skaters, BMX riders, and scooter enthusiasts a safe and dedicated space to practice and enjoy their sports. While Lakewood does not have a large-scale public outdoor skate park like some nearby cities, the skateboarding community here has been historically served by local skate spots and private or indoor facilities.

Historical Background and Facilities

One notable skate facility that once served the Lakewood community was the Incline Club, an indoor skate park that operated until late 2017. The Incline Club was a 23,000-square-foot indoor space equipped with ramps, bowls, rails, and other skate park features suitable for all skill levels-from beginners to advanced riders. It catered not only to skateboarders but also to BMX riders, inline skaters, and scooter riders. The facility offered a year-round, weather-proof environment, which was especially valuable during New Jersey’s cold winter months, providing a safe, controlled space to skate and socialize. Unfortunately, the Incline Club closed permanently in December 2017, leaving a gap in the indoor skate park offerings for Lakewood residents.

Outdoor Skateboarding Opportunities

Currently, Lakewood relies more on smaller local parks, private skate spots, and regional skate parks in neighboring towns. While the township has public parks with open paved areas where informal skating can take place, there isn’t a large, dedicated public outdoor skate park in Lakewood itself akin to those found in larger municipalities.

Nearby municipalities in Ocean County or the greater New Jersey area offer skate parks with concrete bowls, street-style courses, and ramps designed by professional skate park companies. Residents often travel to these facilities for more comprehensive skateboarding experiences.

Community and Skateboarding Culture

Lakewood’s skateboarding scene has been characterized by grassroots efforts, local skate shops, and small community meetups. Skateboarding culture in Lakewood tends to revolve around social gatherings at popular street spots or informal parks rather than large, formalized skate facilities. This fosters a tight-knit community where enthusiasts share tips, organize informal competitions, and promote skateboarding as a healthy outdoor activity for youth.

Planning and Future Prospects

Discussions about developing a dedicated outdoor skate park in Lakewood have occurred within community planning forums and the township’s recreation department. Advocates emphasize the benefits of a formal skate park: offering a safe, supervised environment for young people, reducing conflicts in other park areas, encouraging physical activity, and supporting local youth culture. The township’s Parks and Recreation Department periodically reviews community needs and may explore funding and partnerships to build or enhance skateboarding facilities in the future.

Summary

Lakewood’s skateboarding facilities are currently limited in terms of dedicated public outdoor skate parks, with the former Incline Club indoor park now closed.

The local skate community relies largely on informal spots, private venues, and nearby skate parks in surrounding areas.

The skateboarding culture in Lakewood is active but grassroots, centered around community connection and outdoor activity.

There is interest within the community and local government to develop improved skateboarding infrastructure, but as of now, no major public skate park exists within Lakewood Township itself.

In contrast, other cities named Lakewood, such as Lakewood, Washington, and Lakewood, Ohio, do have larger, well-developed skate parks featuring extensive concrete courses, bowls, and ramps, supported by municipal resources and community initiatives.

This situation reflects Lakewood, New Jersey’s unique blend of community-driven skateboarding enthusiasm paired with a need for formalized public skateboarding facilities to accommodate growing youth interest in the sport.