After more than a decade without one, Louisa County skateboarders once again have a place to ride. The county’s new skatepark beside the Betty Queen Center at 540 Industrial Drive opened in September following years of community advocacy.

The facility features a halfpipe, multiple quarter pipes, wedge ramps and more. It is open daily from dawn to dusk and permits skateboards, bikes and skates. Helmets and closed-toe shoes are required.

The original county skatepark was dismantled in 2013–14 to accommodate a temporary location for the Louisa County Department of Health, which has since moved to 101 Woolfolk Ave. The return of the park fulfills a long-standing pledge to restore the amenity.

County leaders called the project an example of community input in action. “We’re very pleased to once again offer a skatepark to our community and particularly to our youth,” said James Smith, director of Louisa County Parks, Recreation & Tourism, in a statement.

Advocates kept the effort alive over the years, including local skaters and parents. In an interview with The Breeze earlier this year, James Ragland—owner of Bakwuds Skateboards and builder of the county’s first skatepark in 2008—emphasized the importance of affordability and access, noting that a county as large as Louisa could ultimately need more than one park.

Grassroots events have also helped keep the momentum going. In June of 2024, skateboarders gathered in Louisa for an event hosted by Brian Hinnat and the Greater Rockbridge Skater Coalition (GRCSC). The community turnout was strong, and Ragland said it was another sign of how much support exists for skateboarding in Louisa County. “Brian went above and beyond to make that happen for our town,”

Ragland said. “A big thank you to him and to everybody that took part in and supports our skateboarding scene.”

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