Skip to Content
Los Angeles

Venice Skaters Triumph Over Corporate Poseurs ~ Venice Beach


Rendering of the park, it's basically complete now, new photos coming...

The redoubtable LA NOW once again clues us into an important story, a tale of triumph over those who would steal the glory from the skaters and activists who fought for years to bring a good skate park to Venice.

After spending more than 15 years fighting for a place to show off their kickflips and ollies, a group of Venice activists weren’t about to sit back and let commercial promoters skate off with their work.

So Warner Bros. Consumer Products and ASA Entertainment won’t be inaugurating the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks’ new $2.5-million public skateboard park at Venice Beach after all.

The two companies last month announced that their Labor Day “Supergirl Jam” would be the premier event at the new three-basin skateboard complex next to the Venice boardwalk near Windward Avenue. The event would be “in conjunction with the opening of Venice’s amazing new beachside skate park,” Warner Bros. and ASA Entertainment bragged in a July 24 announcement.

Members of the Venice Skateboard Assn. reacted as if they’d been smacked with a concrete face-plant. “Did these people think we just fell off our skateboards yesterday?” fumed Ger-I Lewis, an association leader who helped the city plan and then oversee construction of the new park.

Another longtime Venice skater, Anthony Converse, said the “Supergirl Jam” announcement “has the local community and greater skateboard community in a near insurrection level of outrage and feeling of betrayal.”

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

Ten New Foods of the Future That Stole the Show at Expo West

What you missed out at the 'The Coachella' of natural foods expo that takes place every year in Anaheim.

March 10, 2025

The Five Best Pescados Zarandeados in Los Angeles

Pescado zarandeado is a grilled, butterflied whole fish marinated in a mix of salt, chiles, citrus, and, in some places, achiote paste. It's a flavor bomb that is cooked in steel baskets over charcoal or wood fire. L.A. is the best city in the country to find this dish... if you know where to look.

March 7, 2025

Mosh For Youth, L.A.’s Most Hardcore Non-Profit, Is Slam-Dancing for Latino Scholarships

“If nobody is going to help us,” says Victor Campos, the lead singer of Barrio Slam and CEO and founder of Mosh For Youth. “We'll just do it ourselves.” His new record label out of Pomona goes against the status quo by raising money for scholarships through its support for DIY HxC bands.

March 7, 2025

Weekend Eats: Mafia Sushi, Knafeh Sundaes, and Fried Chongqing Chicken

Plus, a pop-up offering the first peek at Firstborn, a new restaurant coming to Chinatown from a veteran of .ink and Destroyer, with Chinese and French influences.

March 7, 2025

Tokyo Art Legend Takashi Murakami Is Making Dodgers Gear Now

He did covers for Kanye and Kid Cudi, now he's slapping his happy flowers all over a collection of Dodgers (and Cubs) baseball bats, hats, Yamamoto and Ohtani jerseys, tote bags, baseballs, hoodies, bobbleheads, slides, and other stuff.

March 6, 2025
See all posts