Graveside DIY (Skatepark)

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Graveside DIY
Graveside DIY (Skatepark)
Interactive map of Graveside DIY
Type Skatepark (Unsanctioned)
Location Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
Coordinates 35°44′35″N78°41′51″W / 35.743088°N 78.697386°W / 35.743088; -78.697386
Area18,000 sq ft
Opened2016
ClosedDecember 31, 2024
Operated byCommunity volunteers
StatusDemolished (February 2025)
DesignationDIY Memorial & Recreational Site

Graveside DIY was a community-built, unsanctioned skatepark located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Established in 2016 on private land off Mid Pines Road, it became one of the largest and most prominent examples of tactical urbanism in the Southeastern United States. [1] The park was noted for its inclusive culture and community-funded architectural features, including a rare concrete "loop." It was demolished in early 2025 to make way for residential development, sparking a local advocacy movement for sanctioned DIY spaces in the city. [2]

Contents

History

The site began as a "closely guarded secret" in 2016, founded by a small group of local skateboarders on a 13-acre parcel owned by the Islamic Association of Raleigh. [1] During the COVID-19 pandemic, the park's profile grew as a second generation of skaters expanded the site into an 18,000-square-foot facility.

Construction was funded entirely through community donations, GoFundMe campaigns, and the sale of merchandise, raising approximately $20,000 for materials such as concrete, cinder blocks, and rebar. [1] Volunteers, including professional concrete finishers and carpenters, provided the labor.

On December 31, 2024, the property was sold to Blue Heel Development for $1.25 million for the construction of a 57-unit subdivision. [1] A farewell event was held in mid-December 2024, and the ramps were officially demolished by developers in February 2025.

Features

Graveside was characterized by its evolving, hand-built obstacles. Key features included:

The park's proximity to a historic family cemetery—the resting place of descendants of John Winters, Raleigh's first Black city council member—gave the site its name and a unique cultural atmosphere. [1]

Culture and advocacy

The park was home to Skate Forward, an organization founded by Nikki Knapp dedicated to promoting inclusion for women, femme, and non-binary skaters. [2] Following the park's closure, the Graveside community transitioned into political advocacy. In March 2025, skaters petitioned the Raleigh City Council to provide underutilized public land for a sanctioned DIY space, citing successful models in Charlotte and Asheville. [2]

The legacy of Graveside DIY directly influenced the creation of Project 303, a smaller memorial-focused skatepark in the Boylan Heights neighborhood. [3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Porter, Jane (April 18, 2025). "The Skaters of Graveside DIY". INDY Week .
  2. 1 2 3 Roman, Anna (March 12, 2025). "Skaters ask Raleigh leaders for new DIY park they can build themselves". The News & Observer .
  3. ↑ Shaffer, Josh (January 5, 2026). "Hidden skatepark in Raleigh celebrates the sport's fallen heroes". The News & Observer .
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