Skatin’ Place Sundays in Golden Gate Park

This place is a riot! An 80s riot!
If you’re not a roller skater, bring a picnic blanket, a bottle of wine, and some snacks, and park yourself right next to the rink on Sunday afternoons to watch the commotion unfold. There is usually 80s or 90s music blasting and a group of highly entertaining old-​timers who get together every week to free style and practice their synchronized dance-​skating. It’s like watching a feel-​good movie. You’ll leave feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

Great place to skate, no doubt, and a lot of really quirky and fun people who congregate there. BUT, like they say, one bad one can spoil the whole bunch. The guy that presides over this public space like he is the king really irks me. Won’t go into details but his ego and nerve is beyond. I wouldn’t label the spot poor except he is always there and posing like his $€^¥ don’t stink and actually looks to be confrontational. He actually painted at one point on the ground that bikes couldn’t pass through the area.

So cool. I want to spend my whole life grooving on wheels. It is really fun to watch the skaters do their thang to boom box beats. I like to bring a picnic lunch and watch the world spin by. The rink is kinda small, but I like to call it «intimate». Lace up and go skate, people!

I came to check this out since I think it’s organized by the same people that do the Friday Night Skate. To be honest, this event is no where as good as the Friday Night Skate. This is a small rink where you skate in circles, or dance in the middle of the rink to some music. This is great if you’re into dancing or new and just need to practice. I didn’t find it very exciting or interesting as I do not dance or want to skate in small circles all day. This is a good event for kids.

Call it 6^th Heaven or The Church of 8 Wheels… this is the best free show in town on a Sunday afternoon. I’ve been taking out of town guests here for 30 years to show them what makes SF so special. This outdoor roller rink only happens in SF. The best place to be on a Sunday. Colorful outfits, wonderful skaters, creative routines all worked out by the skaters. Some dance in small groups, some are «all skates» where the skaters not only dance all together but they invite the audience to come and participate. So much fun for any age and ability. All you need it a set of wheels.\

It fun in the summer to skate in golden gate park when we have beautiful weather, you see so many different kind of people, dancing, skating and looking sexes I love to people watch.

For my 8^th birthday, my dad bought me the most adorable pair of white and pink roller skates. Little did I know that three blocks away from our house was a special place where I would eventually end up every Sunday afternoon!
There’s no other place like home. And lucky was I to be a part of this experience in a place where magic’s in the air. Men wearing bright blue spandex, with buns of steel gracefully glide around the ‘skating rink.’ Fashionista babes rock out to Michael Jackson tunes blasting from the boombox. Kids like me learning how to skate.
Ah, the good old days. Where did they go? haha, actually nowhere because nothing’s changed at these Sunday skate events. The same great crowd, rockin’ vibes, and grassy hillside watching fun… it’s what I do when my afternoon revolves around a 6 pack, Golden Gate Park, people watching and good conversations with old and new friends.

Every Sunday Kennedy Drive in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is closed to auto traffic. The roadway is transformed into a 21^st century recreational paradise where skaters, bikes, runners, & other park users use the asphalt to have a great time. There is a special area at 6^th Avenue & Kennedy Drive called, «Skatin’ Place». Here skaters boogie to the music all day long. Many glide w/​style & grace. Some work on skate dance routines. Others hone their skills on the slalom course. Many sit on the hillside & watch in awe. It is the greatest example of a public outdoor roller rink in the middle of Golden Gate Park.
I first met the organizer of «Skatin’ Place» Godfather of Skating, David Miles, Jr. when a bunch of my church friends decided to try inline skating after services w/​the folks gathered in Golden Gate Park. David is very personable & smiles a whole lot. The folks who are regulars welcome newcomers & will unhesitatingly teach them tips & tricks if asked. Overall it’s a great vibe.
Santa’s Unilocaler sez: «Wheeeeeeee…»