We are on a mission to create public roller skating spaces in LA County for our community.

The roller skating community is growing while the availability of skate spaces is shrinking.

The LA roller skating community brings people from diverse backgrounds together who would not have normally crossed paths. This creates empathy and opportunity for positive societal change. 

The moving meditation promotes balance, flexibility, strength and agility while also providing an indispensable dose of nourishment for one’s mental health.

Since COVID, three things happened:

  • Countless roller rinks closed due to the sudden halt in sales. Rinks already struggled to keep doors open, but now, as a result of increased popularity, the rinks that survived are thriving! Because fewer rinks are now open, many skaters drive an hour or longer to skate.

  • More people started working remotely, spending unhealthy amounts of time in isolation.

  • A great deal of individuals learned to roller skate as a way to get out of the house, lift their moods, exercise and socialize.

Public spaces for roller skating are needed now more than ever.  Los Angeles County offers the perfect weather to have a public outdoor rink, which eliminates the massive costs of air conditioning and electricity.

  • Affordable access is paramount to the growing skating community, many of whom just began, or continue to skate, well into their 70s/80s.

  • LA has some of the most talented roller dance skaters in the world. It is imperative that our county embrace this cultural legacy by establishing space in order for the sport to thrive for generations to come. 

The Problem

Roller skaters in LA County have limited access to safe and quality roller skating spaces. Southern California has one of the largest roller skating communities in the world. Paying $20+ to skate at a roller rink is unaffordable for many LA County residents. There are free outdoor public spaces for basketball, tennis and skateboarding in nearly every LA neighborhood. Public outdoor rinks are needed now more than ever.

Our Solution

Roller Skaters United plans to work with the local government to create public outdoor roller rinks in underutilized Parks & Rec locations.

We also plan to partner with other non-profits and for profit organizations to create regular free or affordable skate events for our community.

Why Roller Skating Spaces Are Important

COMMUNITY

  • When you roller skate regularly, you create meaningful relationships and friendships. You become part of a supportive network of people that not only want to see you succeed in skating but in all aspects of your life.  

  • Being part of a community (especially post COVID and remote work popularity) can have a positive effect on your mental health and emotional wellbeing because it gives you a sense of belonging and offers meaning and purpose to your life. 

PHYSICAL HEALTH

  • Roller skating is a combination of cardio and resistance training that utilizes your body weight and the weight of your skates.

  • You can burn up to 600 calories in one hour of skating.

  • Many people build stronger muscles when they start roller skating consistently.

  • Because it is fun and social sport, it makes it easy to exercise regularly, keeping people healthy and happy.

MENTAL HEALTH

  • Exercise releases endorphins, which boosts your mood and can help with symptoms of anxiety and depression making roller skating great for your mental health.

  • Challenging yourself to learn new skate moves builds confidence, learning and growing at every skill level. 

  • Time spent outside and in nature has been linked to many benefits, including improved attention, lower stress, better mood, reduced risk of psychiatric disorders and even upticks in empathy and cooperation.

EFFICIENT & MEANINGFUL USE OF SPACE

  • Because the size of one basketball court (approximately 4,700 sq ft) could provide enough space for 100+ people to skate easily, and still be a ton of fun for all participants, the use of space in a densely populated city like Los Angeles is very efficient.

  • Creating dedicated spaces for roller skating in LA would serve hundreds of residents of all races, ages, genders, sexual orientations and socioeconomic backgrounds.