ALL ACCESS SKATEPARKS
The hallmark of California Skateparks’ design process is our approach to creating compelling skateparks that serve all action-sports athletes, including adaptive skaters and wheelchair athletes. While most skaters won’t notice the difference, All Access Skateparks include features that are accessible to mobility-challenged and visually-impaired skaters, a concept championed by California Skateparks called All Access Skateparks.
Adaptive Friendly
In consultation with some of the top adaptive athletes in the world, the California Skateparks design team creates skateparks that include the most contemporary features, but also modified elements like ledges and rails that are adaptive-friendly. All Access Skateparks are not compromised by including these special features. They continue to provide the fun and challenging terrain that all skaters seek. But adaptive athletes will recognize opportunities to ride these elements, too—not as special adaptive-only features, but as general features of the skatepark that they and everyone can enjoy.
Critical to a truly accessible skatepark is ensuring that adaptive athletes can both reach and enter the skatepark. That includes reviewing the skatepark location, access points, and proximity to handicap parking spaces and public transportation, then identifying and addressing any barriers we find.
Integration, Not Separation
All Access Skateparks is California Skateparks’ approach to designing skateparks for all of the athletes currently using these spaces. It integrates adaptive athletes into the family of skateboarding and the communities that grow around each new skatepark. All Access Skateparks features are found throughout each park, rather than set aside in a segregated area. Adaptive athletes have told us that they don’t want to skate on their own—they want to be among all skatepark users. They want to be part of the skatepark community. The integrated design of an All Access Skatepark reminds them that they are.
All Access Skateparks are not only be more accessible to adaptive athletes, they’re more fun, inclusive, and safer for everyone.
WATTS - THE FIRST ALL ACCESS SKATEPARK
The Watts Skatepark in south Los Angeles is the first project to feature California Skateparks' All Access Skatepark design philosophy. Watch as pros, Olympians, and adaptive skaters perform together during the Grand Opening festivities.