Tulsa Skate Park
As the growth of Tulsa’s River Parks advances, activity around the area thrives. No matter the time of day, there are always people out and about. It has become one of my frequented places for photo walks in recent weeks.
Among its many amenities is the skate park near 31st and Riverside. It’s complete with stairs, rails, ramps and several pools. Skaters, scooters and bikers are welcomed.
This is one of my favorite stops. It is always populated, and those with boards or bikes are typically more than willing to perform for the camera. The range in skill level and age varies, but there is a common courtesy among those in attendance as each person goes at their own pace.
One of the local stars is Matt, a 56 year old temporary transplant to Tulsa. He has recently moved back to his home state of North Carolina and is already missed by the regulars. I have yet to encounter anyone at the park that does not know him. Quite a few of the younger skaters around here have been encouraged by him at some point or another.
Among the new faces that I see each time I visit, are the familiar people. Caden is a staple here. He’s always ready with a fist bump and knows most of the people that come and go in the park.
“I started at 16 years old— late compared to others,” Caden told me. “I started it to fill time one summer. Now it is my life. You know how you pick something up, then you can’t put it down.”
He is only three or four years in and is quite good. The wrist brace is a bit of a tademark, as I’ve never seen him without one. It is worn to protect an older injury but has become part of his style. Cool attitude and friendly vibe, look Caden up if you swing by the park.
Skaters are not the only riders that occupy the space. There is an active BMX crowd in the area that finds plenty to do within the pools. They too merge well with the feel and camaraderie that has been cultivated here.
It is an impressive park with an even more impressive gathering of those that are into extreme sports. My bicycle skills can be summed up as a flat surfaces only rider, and I have never been good with wheels of any kind under my feet. So, it is always interesting to watch folks who seemed to have mastered these sports. They’re out there making it happen— ignoring the scrapes and bruises, defying gravity, and keeping the wheeled arts community alive.
