Skateboard Park Grants

Skateboarding has grown from a fringe sport to a respected athletic challenge and confidence-building activity. Skateboard parks, with ramps and smooth surfaces designed for skaters to push themselves and learn new tricks, have become increasingly common in the United States. Communities often welcome skateboard parks as a way to offer young people an alternative activity to traditional team sports or school-sanctioned activities.There are several sources of funding available for skate park construction.

  1. Tony Hawk Foundation

    • Professional skateboarder Tony Hawk has a foundation to encourage the responsible development of skateboarding. Grants up to $25,000 are given to well-planned projects that bring quality, public skateparks to underserved or needy areas. The Tony Hawk grants are sought after and competitive, so it is recommended that your park is in a low-income area and has community and grassroots support, as well as professional design and construction plans.

      Tony Hawk Foundation
      1611-A S. Melrose Drive #360
      Vista, CA 92081 USA
      760-477-2479
      tonyhawkfoundation.org

    National Park Service

    • The National Park Service Land and Water Conservation Fund has granted funding up to $100,000 for skateparks in the past. The funding is provided as matching grants, where State and local governments provide equal funding to what the LWCF offers. According to the NPS, "the program is intended to create and maintain a nationwide legacy of high quality recreation areas and facilities," and to encourage local investment.

      State and Local Assistance Programs
      National Park Service
      1849 C Street NW, Org-2225
      Washington, D.C. 20240
      202-354-6900
      nps.gov

    Community Development Block Grants

    • Community Development Block Grants are a program of the Federal Housing and Urban Development office. They are a source of large grants for low-income areas whose residents are eager to establish recreation and service centers. Street improvement, lighting, and parks are often funded by CDBGs, and several skateparks have benefited from them in the past. The grants, often used for large-scale projects, run from $10,000 to several million dollars, depending on the project. One skatepark project was granted about $600,000.

      U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
      451 7th Street S.W.,
      Washington, DC 20410
      202-708-1112
      hud.gov