Jake’s Skate Park – Baltimore Magazine https://www.baltimoremagazine.com The Best of Baltimore Since 1907 Thu, 30 May 2024 01:42:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/cropped-favicon-32x32.png Jake’s Skate Park – Baltimore Magazine https://www.baltimoremagazine.com 32 32 Rites of Spring: Baltimore is Finally Embracing Its Skateboarding Community https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/sports/baltimore-city-embraces-skateboarding-community-public-skate-parks/ Sun, 19 May 2024 20:21:11 +0000 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/?post_type=article&p=157272

By Adam Bednar

Photography by Matt Roth

Illustrations by Sam Peet

Rites of Spring

Baltimore is Finally Embracing Its Skateboarding Community

Throughout the past two decades, local leaders like Stephanie Murdock have successfully advocated for public skating spaces.

By Adam Bednar

Photography by Matt Roth

Illustrations by Sam Peet

May 2024

Riding Higher

With two still relatively new parks, the city is finally embracing its skating community.

n a recent overcast Friday afternoon, about 10 skaters, mostly in their 20s, push back and forth around the concrete bowl of Jake’s Skatepark at Rash Field. Half of the group is playing a game of “S-K-A-T-E”—basically the skateboarder’s version of “H-O-R-S-E”— in a flat area at the park’s entrance. Their silhouettes, and the spins and flips of their boards, are framed against downtown Baltimore’s skyline just across the Inner Harbor.

“A lot of different people come [skate]. You can tell the locals, or if it’s someone’s first time here,” says Yaamiyn Whitaker, 29, one of the competitors. “But for the most part, it’s very easy [to fit in]. It’s right in the heart of the city where everyone can come.”

Named in memory of 5-year-old skater Jake Owen, who died when a distracted driver slammed into his family’s car, the park opened in 2021. Since then, it has become one of the most popular skating spots in the Baltimore area, with riders from all over the Mid-Atlantic region regularly making pilgrimages.

Although it’s relatively small as far as skate parks go, the Grindline-designed spot attracts a diverse mash-up of skaters because of its combination of obstacles, ramps, waterfront setting—and accessibility. The park’s ambiance can swing from family and little kid-friendly early on the weekends to more of a teenage hangout later in the evening.

Whatever the vibe, says Perry Collins, 28, who rides his bike to the park almost every day, it remains a welcoming spot. “The atmosphere is pretty crazy, sometimes,” he says. “But for the most part, it’s chill.”

PROFILE

Stephanie Murdock: On the Grind

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Matt Roth

The Baltimore area has a rich history of skateboarding. Sandy Hills Skate Park, also known as the Lansdowne Bowl, has roots that stretch back to 1978. Constructed amid skating’s first surge of popularity, it’s now one of the oldest skate parks in the U.S. and among a handful left from that first era of skate park design and construction—albeit with fresh quarter pipes, mini-ramps, and rails. Dundalk’s Bucky Lasek also became one of the sport’s stars in 1980s while still a teenager.

But until recently, it was difficult to find any other skate parks in Baltimore. All that changed thanks to Stephanie Murdock, who, over the last two decades has successfully taught Baltimore skaters how to advocate for the construction of public skate parks in the city itself.

The now-40-year-old’s journey to becoming a leader in the city’s skate community stretches back to her undergraduate years at Towson University—when skating at a permanent park required a road trip to least Baltimore County. Murdock soon began recruiting skaters and allies, and eventually that group coalesced into the nonprofit Skatepark of Baltimore in 2007, which partners with philanthropies and government agencies to facilitate the construction of skate parks.

“It started when I placed an ad with my personal cell phone number in the back of the City Paper—next to all those ‘interesting’ ads—to gauge support and recruit volunteers,” Murdock told Baltimore several years ago. “People began calling me who wanted a skate park.”

So far, Skatepark of Baltimore’s efforts have paved the way for two local skate parks—Roosevelt Park in Hampden in 2019 and Jake’s Skatepark at the Inner Harbor in 2021.

The Hampden skate park facility replaced a makeshift skate pad after nearly a decade of fundraising and construction. Since it opened, the park has earned a reputation as a welcoming place, especially for skaters from marginalized communities.

“I advocate for public concrete skate parks in my free time,” Murdock recently told District Fray, “because I believe that skateboarding can change the trajectory of a young person’s life.”

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]]> Professional Skateboarder Joey Jett is Paying it Forward https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/gamechangers/professional-skateboarder-joey-jett-towson-native-teaches-kids-to-skate/ Wed, 01 Nov 2023 17:19:21 +0000 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/?post_type=article&p=149346
—Photography by Matt Roth

Towson-raised professional skateboarder Joey Jett, 25—who rose to national acclaim when he was only seven—found a sense of freedom and belonging in the sport. Today, he’s sharing that with future generations. In addition to creating his own skate-inspired streetwear line, JETT Brand Clothing, he helped to organize fundraising efforts to launch Jake’s Skate Park at Rash Field. Opened last year, the park was built in honor of a five-year-old skateboarder named Jake Owen who was killed by a distracted driver. At Jake’s Skate Park, Jett offers free lessons to children 12 and under as part of an event called Boards and Breakfast.  Here, Jett talks about his journey.

When I was six, I thought my neighbor was the coolest person ever. He was five years older than me, and he was always on a skateboard, so, eventually, I grabbed my own. At first, I was bad at skating—probably way worse than the average person who first steps on a skateboard. But it pretty much became my life. Within an eight-month period, I became the youngest skateboarder to do a backflip, was invited to the Dew Tour, and won about 50 contests in a row.

At 10 years old, I quit. When I first started skating, it felt natural. But once I joined the competition circuit, there was more pressure. People were predicting that I would become the next Tony Hawk. But all I really wanted to do was be a normal kid. What I first loved about skateboarding was the freedom that it brings—the creativity, the fun, the adrenaline.

Five years later, I moved to Calvert County. I knew one person at my new high school, my stepbrother, who told everyone I was a professional skateboarder. Here I was, 4 foot 7, with buck teeth. I had nothing to lose, and so I kind of went along with it. Soon, other skaters started coming up to me, inviting me to skate with them. I was terrified because I hadn’t done it in five years. I basically lost everything I knew when I was younger. I was at a beginner level—couldn’t even do one trick—but they accepted me.

From there, we skated every day. I filmed a couple videos in high school. Filming with my friends got me back to the real reason I fell in love with skateboarding in the first place. There was no contest, it was just about creating new tricks and having the freedom to be able to do whatever you want without being judged. I sent one to Mike Vallely, who was my favorite professional skater when I was starting out. He said, ‘I really liked this video. You should meet me on tour.’

From there, I ended up going to Japan, Denmark, Greece, Italy—all around the world—and then, Mike named me pro. I did that for three years and then I started my own clothing line, JETT Brand, and now that’s what I do.

I also helped raise money for the opening of Jake’s Skate Park at Rash Field. At the time, I had just finished touring the world for about three years. I was planning a really big art show in Baltimore, and Jake’s family approached me and said, ‘We would love to do this show with you. Would you mind helping us raise funds for a skate park?’ I really wanted to help make it happen, for them and for Baltimore. I felt like we needed a skate park.

We did the art show and ended up selling out and raising $35,000. When opening day came around, it was cool to see everyone there. I wouldn’t trade the feeling of seeing that community blossom for anything.

When you’re a kid, skate parks can be intimidating. I decided to create Boards and Breakfast at Jake’s Skate Park just for them. I picked up skateboarding at such a young age, and never really had a teacher, I just learned it in my own way. So now, teaching kids is very natural for me. I know exactly how to work with them. To see them with big smiles, and such excitement for skateboarding, makes me get excited, too. That’s what I’m here for. I’m not really into gatekeeping. I’m here to teach people new skills and help them be creative, because I know what that’s done in my own life.

If I can help inspire one kid, or help them be creative, then that’s good enough for me.

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