Skaters lead effort to build a roller rink at DeFremery Park

With no indoor rinks within 25 miles of Oakland and no dedicated free outdoor skating spaces, roller skaters in the city are using parking lots, cracked sidewalks and basketball courts for the activity. 

That could change with a plan by skaters to build a free outdoor roller rink at DeFremery Park in West Oakland. The Panther Skate Plaza Project’s mission is to create an inclusive and accessible space for roller skaters of all identities, ages, and abilities — one that is organized by and for the community. 

The city expressed early support for the idea but allocated no funding. With Oakland facing serious budget constraints, financial help is off the table. 

“The city has been very clear about not being able to help with funding,” said Andrew J. Nilsen, project leader and a resident DJ at Panther Prowl. “They are helping us with the planning process.” 

As of now, there is no official design, but rather, a concept rendering of the proposed rink site around 13,000 square feet. It is a visual representation of  what could exist, encouraging support and commitment to bring Panther Skate Plaza’s vision to life. 

The idea has the support of DeFremery Recreation Center Director Greg McClain and Fred Kelly, Parks, Recreation, and Youth Development director. 

Although nothing has been officially approved, the city has assigned a project manager to assist Panther Skate Plaza leaders in obtaining all the necessary pieces of the project. An official design and proposal with budget and funding are in the works. 

Organizers have raised more than $10,000 but the project could cost millions. They  estimate that leveling the site between the basketball courts and the skateboarding park, then pouring concrete could push costs to $2 million. Despite the price tag, organizers remain motivated by the growing roller skating community. 

“We met regularly in the recreation center to hone their plans and build the momentum,” McClain said. “Out of that came the Panther Prowl.” 

Every Thursday, about 75 skaters gather at the proposed rink site for the Panther Prowl, a skate on the basketball courts at DeFremery Park from 6 to 9 p.m. 

Lights are turned on, upbeat music is blasted through portable speakers, and the basketball courts are transformed into a lively hub filled with laughter, colorful skates and shared energy. 

“The community definitely needs something like this,” said Mikki Birden, of Oakland, at a recent skate night. Birden said the environment is family friendly and inclusive. 

“No one is getting laughed at when we fall. We’re all checking on each other, asking if we’re OK,” Birden said. 

Getting started

The movement to secure a dedicated skating space in West Oakland began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when skate rinks closed due to social distancing restrictions. Skaters sought alternative spaces, such as the parking lot at the Lake Merritt Sailboat House, which was used as a temporary rink. When  pandemic restrictions eased and businesses reopened, skaters were no longer allowed to use the parking lot. 

That’s when Keiyana Kemp, of Oakland, discovered the basketball courts at DeFremery Park in 2021 and proposed the space as a new meeting place for skaters. Kemp worked with 

McClain to see if the basketball courts could become a makeshift skating rink. The idea seemed like a natural fit, considering that the basketball courts served as an empty and available space, and DeFremery Park has a designated area for skateboarders. 

Together, they founded the Panther Skate Plaza Project — a reference to the park’s historic significance to the Black Panther Party, which ran community service projects there. Also known as Bobby Hutton Park, after the late Black Panther member who was killed by police, DeFremery has long been a gathering space for residents to engage in fundraisers and rallies.

“Their mission was to provide free resources for the community, and that is what we’re building off of by offering this free resource.” said  Tamara Copes, a project leader. “From the beginning that was our primary tenet. We never want there to be a cost.”

Shovel-ready project

At the weekly Panther Prowl, donors contribute toward snacks, equipment and maintenance, while DJs volunteer their time. Attendees can borrow skates for free when they are available. Donations, petitions and skate program signups are part of the effort to bring the rink to life. 

“We just need someone to write the first check, a $50,000 check. Once that comes in, the rest will follow,” Copes said. 

Organizers are also seeking corporate sponsorships and connections with local businesses for funding and to build momentum. Phase One includes constructing a smooth, level surface with a skate-specific finish, proper lighting and a seating area.

“We wish there was money from the city, but we know the money is out there,” Nilsen said. “It’s just making sure there is a good plan in place so that when we do go to a funder, we can say, ‘This is basically shovel ready. Do you want to pay for it?’”

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