Oregon Town ‘At the Edge of the World’ Opens World-Class Skatepark

One day a modest idea rolled into Lakeview, Oregon: What if we built a skatepark?

Two years later, that dream is now a reality. In the fall of 2025, this southern Oregon town of 2,400 celebrated the grand opening of its world-class skatepark, with kids, families and even professional scooter rider Bodhi Sol rolling in to mark the occasion. 

From $1,500 ➝ $600,000

It all started when Rotarian Chuck Kelley noticed that many kids were missing out on traditional sports like football and basketball because the gear was too expensive, English wasn’t their first language or they didn’t feel like they belonged.

“Those sports don’t catch everybody,” adds fellow Rotarian Michael McGowen. “The fear is that the way kids go instead is to the easily available and inexpensive drugs."

So, the Rotary Club donated $1,500 to start planning. A community survey confirmed broad support and momentum grew. Over time, the community raised $600,000 — through in-kind donations, local fundraisers, philanthropy and grants, including $60,000 from Oregon Community Foundation.

Built to Welcome Everyone 

Lakeview wanted more than just a skatepark. They wanted a gathering place that could host competitions and welcome all kinds of riders. 

They tapped Dreamland Skateparks, the renowned Oregon-based firm, to design a 13,000-square-foot park with a kidney-shaped bowl, chute, mounds and space for park and street-style skating. The design welcomes skateboarders, scooter riders, BMX bikers, rollerbladers and wheelchair users. 

Community Spirit on Wheels

Lakeview is in one of Oregon’s poorest and most remote counties, but the town’s grit carried the project forward. “We don’t have much in this town, but one thing we do have is town spirit,” McGowen says.

From neighbors opening their homes to construction crews, to national nonprofits like The Skatepark Project offering guidance, the effort showed what’s possible when a community refuses to give up on its kids.

The people of Lakeview said they’d find a way — and they did.