Some of my favorite skate spots in the Midwest.
Skate Naked - Columbus, Ohio
Columbus’s only indoor public skatepark. It’s a hidden gem in a warehouse by the airport and your GPS will lead you astray. When your GPS says you’re about to pass it, turn off the highway, go through a random businnes’s huge parking lot, and look for a nondescript building with a chain-link fence and a gravel parking lot. The park has obstacles for all skill levels and has a gritty, dirt-under-your-nails appeal.
Schmidty’s Ramp & Camp - West Lafayette, Indiana
This place is legend among rollerbladers, but all wheels are welcome. Schmidty’s is a private skatepark in the woods overlooking a lake, so it’s stunningly serene. The relaxed atmosphere is perfect for trying out more extreme tricks. There’s also a mini ramp, and bring your tent if you want to camp! Be sure to contact Tim on Instagram @schmidtys_ramp_and_camp to get the okay before going over.
The Shred Shed - outside Madison, Wisconsin
Madison doesn’t have a public indoor skatepark, so all the places to skate indoors are privately owned and run DIY spots. The Shred Shed was built by roller skaters but all are welcome. There are two wide mini ramps and several small obstacles, so perfect for a casual sesh and learning/practicing new tricks in a chill environment. It’s VERY well-hidden, so you’ll never find it if you didn’t already know it was there or someone who knows took you. Even your GPS will get you lost. Reach out to @theshredshedwi for info.
Grove City Skatepark - Grove City, Ohio
Verts, verts, verts! Grove City has the highest ramps in the Columbus metro area. Even some of the shorter ramps (5-6ft) have a foot or two of vert. The highest ramp is, I think, 11 ft. The park includes a flow bowl and a standalone half-pipe with the smoothest concrete I’ve ever seen, so build for speed. A word of caution: the park is right by the police station.
Sk8 Liborius - St. Louis, Missouri
Possibly the coolest skatepark in the world. Built into the former St. Liborius cathedral, which was erected in 1889, Sk8 Liborius has all the old gothic charm of a cathedral combined with the badassery of a skatepark. There’s a massive vert ramp, a plaza area, and a mini ramp in the choir loft. And you can skate it all under the old church’s stained glass windows. Bring your camera because between the architecture and the graffiti art, it’s too beautiful not to take pictures of.
Logan Boulevard Skatepark - Chicago, Illinois
If you love a gritty skatepark, this one’s for you! It’s under an overpass in Chicago and there’s not really any parking right around the skatepark, so pro tip: pay $2 to park in the movie theater parking deck around the corner. A lot of skaters do, so they’re cool. Because the skatepark is under a bridge, be on the lookout for pigeons. There are a lot and their shit is VERY SLICK on the wooden ramps until it dries. Also, watch out for holes and broken spots in some of the smaller ramps. I realize I’ve made it sound bad, but it’s actually really cool and the vibes are good. If you want challenging terrain on small and medium-sized ramps, it’s a good place to go.
Coffman Skatepark - Dublin, Ohio
Good all-around skatepark. There’s a long, open-ended bowl, a small pump track, and a plaza area. If you like jumping, there’s an A-frame gap and a 5-stair Pro tip: Go in the morning before it gets too crowded, especially if you’re visiting in the summer or on a weekend.
Skate Church - Davenport, Iowa
Hear me out: If you’re not religious, don’t let the fact that this skatepark is in a working church scare you off. Everyone is super cool, the space is huge and perfect for both beginners and more advanced skaters alike. It’s indoors and only $4 to get in, and that $4 goes to support the church’s food pantry so local families don’t go hungry. So you can shred the ramps AND do good.
Lauridsen Skatepark - Des Moines, Iowa
Just opened in 2021 and at 88,000 square feet, it’s the largest skatepark in the US! Dew Tour 2021 was held there and all those structures are permanent, so you can skate the same obstacles and ramps the pros did. If you want to train for skating competitions, especially skateboarding, this is the place to do it. It’s outdoors and free to enter. There are also less intense sections for beginners and kids as well.