JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – When you think of skateboarding history, California usually comes to mind. But tucked into Jacksonville’s Arlington neighborhood is a piece of East Coast history that’s still rolling strong.
Kona Skate Park isn’t just another local hangout — it’s the oldest privately owned skate park in the world.
Opened in 1977, Kona quickly became a magnet for skaters across the country.
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“Jacksonville was the first city to really attract professional skateboarders in the late ’70s and early ’80s to the East Coast,” said second-generation owner Martin Ramos. “Because of the skate park being here, it kind of anchored skateboarding for the entire East Coast.”
From bankruptcy to community anchor
It wasn’t always smooth riding. Just two years after opening, the park went bankrupt.
That’s when Ramos’ father stepped in.
“He was more about family and community and creating a safe space for kids and families to come together,” Ramos said. “It just ended up being skateboarding, but it was always based in the community.”
That philosophy stuck.
What began as an abandoned property became a hub where skaters built friendships as well as skills.
Launchpad for legends
Over the decades, Kona has been more than just a local spot.
Skateboarding icon Tony Hawk competed in his first sponsored contest here.
The park even landed a spot in Hawk’s Pro Skater video game, cementing its place in pop culture.
To keep up with the sport’s evolution, the park has been updated repeatedly.
“We just kept adding to the park as skateboarding culture changed,” Ramos explained. “We’re probably in our fourth iteration right now — modernizing areas, creating new spaces.”
Family on wheels
For today’s generation of skaters, Kona is as relevant as ever.
Teenager Jacob Cardona started skating about a year and a half ago, and his family has since taken “skate vacations” across the country.
Out of all the parks he’s visited, he says Kona is still his favorite.
His mom, Andrea, says that’s because the park represents more than concrete ramps.
“It is truly a sense of community. Whether you know someone already or not, you immediately feel connected,” she said.
Lessons that last
Keeping 9 acres of ramps, rails, and pools open isn’t easy — or cheap. Much of the work remains hands-on.
“We’re DIY here,” Ramos laughed. “I’ve got a great lawn mower.”
But he says the lessons of skateboarding keep him motivated.
“Skateboarding teaches you perseverance. You fall — it hurts, it’s difficult. But you get back up," Ramos said. “Those are life lessons you take with you forever.”
Nearly 50 years after it opened, Kona Skate Park is still thriving — not just as a skateboarding landmark, but as a community that continues to roll forward together.