PRESS RELEASE: Oak Cliff Skatepark Hits Phase One Fundraising Goal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 10, 2025

 

Contact:
Jake Ettinger – Council Member Chad West’s Office

Jake.ettinger@dallas.gov

 

Oak Cliff Skatepark Hits Phase One Fundraising Goal as Design Moves Forward

 

The Oak Cliff Skatepark achieved a major milestone on its path to become the city’s first skatepark south of the Trinity River. Council Member Chad West and skatepark supporters have concluded their $400,000 private fundraise initiative, which unlocks $400,000 in matching public dollars. Combined with $1 million in 2024 bond funds, this $1.8 million will cover design and construction of the skatepark. Design work is already underway and expected to be completed by April 2026. Construction should kick off in fall 2026 and be completed by spring 2027, barring any setbacks.

 

While the skatepark construction moves forward, CM West is officially launching the fundraising efforts for two additional phases. Phase 2 is a $200,000 private fundraise to design and build a shade structure over the skatepark while Phase 3 is a $1 million fundraise to design and construct a small community amenity center and restrooms.

 

“I am so grateful to the many donors who have made this milestone possible,” said Council Member Chad West. “Thanks to their generosity, we will deliver a new skate park for the southern sector and bring long-overdue investment to West Oak Cliff. Coupled with the adjacent tiny forest planted earlier this year, this project will be a catalyst for Westmoreland Park and enhance residents’ quality of life.”

 

District 1 Park Board Member JR Huerta emphasized the project’s community impact. “This is a needed investment in the West Oak Cliff community and a huge step forward in improving park access for our residents,” Huerta said. “Providing a quality, accessible public space like this enriches the lives of our families and will serve as a gathering place for years to come.”

 

Clinton Haley, founder of Skateparks for Dallas, noted the importance of the project to the city’s skate community. “We’re really excited to see the Oak Cliff Skatepark plans continue to progress,” Haley said. “This will be the first public skatepark in southern Dallas. It will not only provide a fun outlet for exercise but also create a positive, active space for local families and kids to connect.”

 

District 1 resident Ryan Schorman shared his personal excitement. “As a resident of Oak Cliff, I’m thrilled to finally have a skatepark close to home,” Schorman said. “For the last 25 years, I’ve been driving 30 minutes or more to reach one. Now, people from all parts of DFW will come to skate here and see how great Oak Cliff is.”

 

If you are interested in supporting Phase 2 or 3 of this project, you can learn more and donate here - https://skateparksfordallas.org/oak-cliff-skatepark.

Comprehensive History of the Dallas Skatepark Advocacy Process by the Advocate

Sam Gillespie from the Lakewood / East Dallas Advocate provides a comprehensive history of the mission & advocacy for skateparks in Dallas since 2016. He does a fantastic job highlighting that Dallas’s own data says we need skateparks. Full Article Linked Here

Dive into the Advocate’s article to understand the process and realities of skatepark advocacy. But also take away how important all the skaters showing up to the various Glencoe meetings has been, because without you coming and asking for the skatepark, none of this coverage would have happened.

Your voice really does matter in local affairs!


Dallas Morning News Editorial Supports the Glencoe Skatepark in the M Streets

The Editorial Board of the Dallas Morning News lent their support to the Glencoe Skatepark on November 6, 2023. The Dallas Morning News reporters attended several skatepark events regarding Glencoe Park and provide their perspective on the skatepark after hearing arguments from all sides. Skateparks for Dallas appreciates our local newspaper of records attention and consideration on this important matter.

You can contact Skateparks for Dallas at info@skateparksfordallas.org or join our email list

READ THE FULL EDITORIAL HERE

Dallas Needs More Skate facilities, and Glencoe Park would be an ideal location.

Next Chance to Support Skateparks on the 2024 Bond

Tues October 10, 2023 6-7p District 7 (St Francis skatepark) town hall Mtg, Buckner Terrace Montessori

Tues October 10, 2023 6-7p District 1 town hall (Oak Cliff skatepark) at Casa Guanajuato

Wed Oct 11, 2023 6-7p District 14 town hall (Glencoe skatepark) at Oak Lawn Branch Library

If you live in one of the districts listed, your voice is even more impactful! Come with a skateboard!

2024 Bond Election is our Next Big Opportunity! Share your voice!

Attend a Bond Task Force meeting on August 22, Sept 26 or Oct 3 to get skateparks built in Dallas. 630pm at Dallas City Hall - 1500 Marilla Street
— Clinton Haley, Founder of Skateparks for Dallas

In 2017, Skateparks for Dallas, working with Dallas City Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem Adam Medrano, CM Omar Narvaez and Jesse Moreno, we successfully lobbied to have the funding for the Bachman Lake Skatepark on the bond. Because that bond passed a super majority of Dallas voters, we now have funding and a final design for a flagship skatepark! (see the design here).

Time flies when you are having fun, and the planning for a 2024 citywide bond is well underway! Through the tireless advocacy of the Skateparks for Dallas family, we have very positive signals for the 2024 Bond for Parks & Rec.

The first project is the Oak Cliff skatepark, which is also heavily supported by its local community. Read all about it in our prior posts on the Oak Cliff Skatepark page

Second is total revamp of the ultra-popular St. Francis Skatepark at Lakeland Hills Park. We have previously covered this gem (LINK). On the 2024 Bond, we aim to enhance the St. Francis skatepark by getting rid of the old rusty ramps and rebuilding the park in beautiful and smooth, permanent and low maintenance concrete. This is a fabulous park that is deeply loved by the action sports community and nearby neighbors, and it deserves this upgrade.

Third, we may have support for additional funding for an additional park. Its been a long term dream of Skateparks for Dallas to have a skatepark in each council district. Parks & Rec’s own assessment is that Dallas needs 17 skateparks to fulfill all the skating demand we have in the city, and it just so happens we have 14 districts, so that will get us close!

You can support this effort by physically attending the City Bond Taskforce meetings at Dallas City Hall. Bring a skateboard or helmet to show why you are there!

August 22, 2023 —> 6:30pm to 9pm - 1500 Marilla Street

September 26, 2023 —> 6:00pm to 9pm - 1500 Marilla Street

October 3, 2023 —> 6:00pm to 9pm - 1500 Marilla Street!

Join our email list to stay in the know

Oak Cliff Skaters Show Out Big Time

Oak Cliff skaters showed out in droves on a beautiful spring day in Oak Cliff (April 15, 2023) to support the Oak Cliff Skatepark. Over 75 skaters signed the waiver to ride the Magnolia Skate Shop mini ramp. The venue, Camp Bishop at 111 N. Bishop, hosted by Exxir Real Estate was a perfect setting. Thank you to all of our sponsors, especially DJ EZ Eddie D from KNON for keeping the vibes rolling all day. And extra special thanks to Oak Cliff Council Member Chad West!

Check out our Instagram for more photos of an amazing event - PHOTOS 1, PHOTOS 2

Casting Call for DFW Skaters to Appear in a Commercial

Skateparks for Dallas received an email from a local casting company called Cast-O-Matic seeking skateboarders to potentially appear in a TV Commercial. Here is the email we received. We haven’t personally vetted this opportunity, but wanted to share it to our community


CASTING BREAKDOWN:

We are casting a commercial in DFW and are looking for SKATEBOARDERS. The shoot is in DALLAS! If you fit the specs below, and are available for ALL required dates, email a few recent photos, skateboard experience, & phone/email to kina@cast-o-matic.com for immediate consideration. If interested, we will send audition instructions. IF YOU HAVE A TALENT AGENT, ASK THEM TO SUBMIT ON YOUR BEHALF!

Casting Sites: Do Not post. This is a local search only.

Submission Deadline: End of day Monday, January 16

CLIENT: Major retailer for custom business solutions

SPECS: Skateboarders - Men/Women, ethnically diverse, 20s-early 30s. Should be skilled vert skater. Must be able to drop-in and come out of a halfpipe with ease.

AUDITION: From self tapes - will be required to demo some of your skills

CALLBACK: 1/25 Virtual on Zoom

SHOOT DATES: in Dallas! Out of towners must be willing to work local hire 1/31 or 2/1 *talent may shoot one or both days

PAY: Session fee: $500 + 15% agency, if applicable (per day)

Usage: $1200 + 15% agency, if applicable

USAGE: 18 Months - Connected TV, YouTube, Owned Media

For consideration, email a few recent photos with your name, skateboard experience, & phone/email to kina@cast-o-matic.com.

Please let me know if youu have any questions. You can visit our website, cast-o-matic.com, and/or the Cast-O-Matic Facebook page to see our previous work. 

Thank you for your time and best wishes on your skatepark endeavors. 

Rina Bale

Casting Director

Cast-O-Matic

cast-o-matic.com

The Dallas Skatepark Design Reveal - Bachman Lake Skatepark

City of Dallas leadership loving the new skatepark design with skaters and Skateparks for Dallas

On December 1, 2022, Team Pain Skateparks revealed the new skatepark design at Bachman Recreation Center, which is right next to where the park will be built. City of Dallas leadership in attendance include former Mayor Pro Tem Adam Medrano, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Omar Narvaez, Park Board Member Tim Dickey, DISD Board Member Joe Carreon, and the Friends of Bachman Lake Susanna and Ryan Brown. Mr. Medrano was absolutely instrumental in seeing this skatepark come to life so it was exciting to see him there.

Council Member Narvaez spoke before the session and gave a special shout out to Park Board Member Tim Dickey. Mr. Dickey is a long time Bachman Lake resident and saw skaters live at the famous 1980s area Clown Ramp. The Clown ramp (pictures in the gallery) put Dallas skateboarding on the map internationally in the 1980s.

The design will go to bid in early 2023 and construction is aiming to begin in Summer 2023. Skateparks for Dallas will keep you posted.

Bachman Skatepark totals 45,600 square feet of skateable area

skatepark schematic gives an overview of everything together

here is a rendering of the skatepark

A proposed recognition of the clown ramp at Bachman to honor the history that was created at Bachman

All the skatepark features were designed to accommodate all the roots to ensure no tree removal for the skatepark, which ensures a great shade and preserving the old growth trees. This will help make the Dallas flagship skatepark feel very special. The park is 1/10th of a mile away (560 ft) from the Bachman Station DART station. An existing 22 parking spot lot is already on site and 458 nearby spots at the DART station itself.

In addition to the trees, the park will have three 10x20 shade structures. Seating for 108 people, 9 trash can receptacles, water fountains with bottle fillers, and bicycle racks. The hope is this park continues to help make Dallas a skateboarding destination known throughout the world.

Google Maps context for what the new skatepark replaces

This is the existing park maintenance facility that will be replaced with the skatepark. The red outline shows where the skatepark can go without disturbing the amazing trees on site.

Flagship Bachman Lake Skatepark Final Design Presentation December 1, 2022

On December 1, 2022 at 6pm at the Bachman Recreation Center, at 2750 Bachman Drive, Team Pain Skateparks will reveal the final design of the new flagship skatepark at Bachman Lake. This project was funded by 2017 Bond Election Funds and has hosted numerous design input sessions.

Council Members Omar Narvaez (District 6) and Jesse Moreno (District 2) will also attend