SF’s Getting New 93-Foot Roller Skate Mural in Golden Gate Park in 2022
A ground mural featuring a golden roller skate surrounded by a psychedelic pattern may add new color to a legendary skating spot in Golden Gate Park after the San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission voted unanimously to approve the final design today.
The 28-foot by 93-foot oval mural planned for the asphalt of Skatin’ Place, the park’s outdoor skating rink between 6th Avenue and John F. Kennedy Drive, will next go before the San Francisco Arts Commission for final review. Created by Bay Area artist and longtime Golden Gate Park skater Aimee Bruckner, the design honors San Francisco, Golden Gate Park, and the park’s roller skating history with a counterculture-themed color scheme, a reference to the Golden Gate Bridge and a roller skate in the center circle
The simple design supports spatial orientation for skaters to maintain their balance as they glide around and over it. The mural would be created using yellow, orange, red, teal, and purple asphalt acrylic paint, a durable material that resists fading or peeling from heavy use. A weather-resistant sports coating system would allow simple maintenance and retouching.
The project is a collaboration between the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and David Miles Jr., founder of the Church of 8 Wheels and longtime skating advocate and steward of Skatin’ Place. The Church of 8 Wheels and Rec and Park hosted two community meetings to solicit feedback and ideas on design proposals.
If passed by the Arts Commission, the mural’s installation will begin in the spring of 2022 and take six to eight weeks to complete.
Roller skating in Golden Gate Park has a long history. John McLaren, the park’s designer, and first superintendent built a roller rink at the Children’s Playground in 1891. More than a century later, the skating community continues to celebrate the joy of rolling at Skatin’ Place. The area has become of symbol of self-expression, movement, acceptance, and diversity, creating a strong community of skaters and supporters.
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