Beginner and kid-friendly skateparks near Los Angeles, CA
A skatepark is good for a first visit when it has low, gentle ramps, wide flat ground to practice pushing and turning, and few big features (tall ramps, handrails, deep bowls) that experienced skaters fly off. A fence between the park and the street and lights for evening visits help too.
We score every park from the features it lists. Gentle features such as a mini ramp (a small ramp to learn on), low banks and quarter pipes (short curved ramps) add points; lights, a fence, restrooms and staff on site add a little more; big features such as stairs, handrails, deep bowls and vertical ramps take points away, and a park with a handrail, vertical ramp, pool or large half-pipe is never labelled great. Parks that owners or skaters have marked beginner-friendly come first. Labels are great for beginners, mixed, or advanced. 7 parks near Los Angeles, CA earn the great label; the mixed parks are listed further down for a grown-up to check first.
Great for beginners
- Whittier Narrows BMX, South El Monte, CA ยท a pump track (rolling bumps, no tricks needed); lit at night; restrooms on site; staff on site; described as good for kids
- Orizaba Park Skatepark, Long Beach, CA ยท low ledges; a low manual pad; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); staff on site; described as beginner-friendly
- Inglewood Pumptrack, Inglewood, CA ยท a pump track (rolling bumps, no tricks needed); staff on site; described as family-friendly; a place to learn; smooth surface
- Bonita Skatepark, Arcadia, CA ยท a small kicker ramp; low ledges; a low manual pad; staff on site; described as beginner-friendly
- Imperial Courts Skatepark, Los Angeles, CA ยท a small kicker ramp; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); no big stairs, handrails or deep bowls
- Silverado Skatepark, Long Beach, CA ยท a small kicker ramp; restrooms on site; staff on site; no big stairs, handrails or deep bowls
- Verdugo Skatepark, Canada Blvd (Verdugo Park) Glendale, CA ยท a small kicker ramp; low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); lit at night
Worth a look with a grown-up
These parks have some beginner features but also bigger ones:
- William Nickerson Skatepark, Los Angeles, CA ยท low ledges; restrooms on site; staff on site; no big stairs, handrails or deep bowls
- Houghton Skatepark, Long Beach, CA ยท low ledges; a low manual pad; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); lit at night; smooth surface ยท watch out: has a bowl (a deep, curved pool-like area)
- Bixby Skatepark, Long Beach, CA ยท a small kicker ramp; low ledges; a low manual pad; staff on site ยท watch out: has a spine (two ramps back to back)
- Garden Grove Skate Spot, Buena Park, CA ยท a small kicker ramp; a low manual pad; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); lit at night; staff on site ยท watch out: has ledges down stairs; has kinked rails
- Monitor Park Skatepark, Los Angeles, CA ยท a low manual pad; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); restrooms on site; staff on site ยท watch out: has ledges down stairs
- West Athens Elementary Skatepark, Los Angeles, CA ยท a small kicker ramp; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); restrooms on site; staff on site; smooth surface ยท watch out: has ledges down stairs
- Drake Skatepark, Long Beach, CA ยท lit at night; staff on site; described as beginner-friendly ยท watch out: has a spine (two ramps back to back)
- Echo Skatepark, Los Angeles, CA ยท staff on site
- McBride Skate Plaza, Long Beach, CA ยท low ledges; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); lit at night; restrooms on site; described as beginner-friendly ยท watch out: has ledges down stairs; has a set of stairs
- Palomares Park, Pomona, CA ยท staff on site
- Pasadena Skatepark, Pasadena, CA ยท a small kicker ramp; a low manual pad; quarter pipes (short curved ramps); restrooms on site; staff on site ยท watch out: has handrails; has ledges down stairs
- Stoner Skatepark, Los Angeles, CA ยท a small kicker ramp; restrooms on site; staff on site; described as beginner-friendly; a place to learn ยท watch out: has a spine (two ramps back to back); has a set of stairs
Tips for a first visit
- Go on a weekday morning or early afternoon: the park is quiet and there is room to practice.
- Wear a helmet, and knee and wrist pads for the first few visits. Most falls land on hands and knees.
- Watch for a minute before you roll in, so you can see how skaters take turns, and let faster skaters pass.
- Start on the flat ground and the smallest ramp. Rolling, stopping and turning come before any trick.
