Roller Skate Rentals Return to GG Park After 44 Years
Fancy roller skating in Golden Gate Park? Golden Gate Park visitors who don’t have their own pair of skates will be able to experience the beloved Skatin’ Place on the JFK Promenade thanks to new skate rentals launching this Saturday, April 27, 2024 the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department announced today.
The skate rentals, provided by DMJ Skates Sport Marketing LLC, will take place Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Skatin’ Place, located on the JFK Promenade near Sixth Avenue.
Visitors can choose between inline skates or roller skates. Rates for youth under 12 years old will be $12 per hour, and then $5 for every hour thereafter. For adults and anyone over 13 years old, rentals will be $20 per hour, and then $5 for every hour thereafter. Safety gear, which is recommended but not required, will be available to rent for $5 per day.
DMJ Skate Sport Marketing LLC is owned and operated by David Miles Jr., who is famously known in San Francisco as the Godfather of Skate. From founding the Church of 8 Wheels on Fillmore Street to creating pop-up roller rinks for sought-after events like Burning Man and the Electric Daisy Carnival, Miles has dedicated his life to spreading positivity and fun through skating.
“I’ve been wanting to do this for many years. With several improvements recently made at Skatin’ Place and the permanent closure of the JFK Promenade to cars, now is the perfect time for rentals,” Miles said. “People can come out and get the full roller-skating experience at one of the most beautiful parks in the nation.”
The history of skating in Golden Gate Park goes back to 1891, when the park’s designer and first superintendent, John McLaren, built a roller rink at the Children’s Playground. When skating gained mainstream prominence in the 1970s, the sport brought thousands of people to the park on any given weekend. Its overnight popularity soon became overwhelming, leading to the formation of the legendary ambassador group the Golden Gate Park Skate Patrol, on which Miles served as leader.
The creation of Skatin’ Place in 1986 on top of the old Sixth Avenue park entrance marked another milestone. Skatin’ Place has since become an important gathering space for skaters from all over the Bay Area, symbolizing fun and self-expression. The site’s famous Disco Roller Party has been happening every Sunday since the site’s creation and to this day, it remains a San Francisco tradition. SF Rec and Park revamped Skatin’ Place in 2022, adding new paving and a vibrant ground mural created by Bay Area artist and longtime Golden Gate Park skater Aimee (Bruckner) Stevland.
For now, skate rentals will take place on Saturdays and Sundays, however, there are plans to expand rentals to include Fridays in the future.
For people looking to plan ahead, rentals can be arranged in advance.
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