Mayor Shannon Martin, City of Port St. Lucie | City of Port St. Lucie website
Mayor Shannon Martin, City of Port St. Lucie | City of Port St. Lucie website
Fifteen years after its closure, a recreation facility in Port St. Lucie is set to reopen with a new purpose. Skate City, located at Whispering Pines Park on SW Darwin Blvd., ceased operations as a skateboarding venue in 2010. Recently, renewed interest from local roller and inline skaters has led to efforts to revitalize the space.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 5 p.m., marking the official opening of the refurbished Skate City, now dedicated to outdoor roller and inline skating. This development represents Port St. Lucie's first public outdoor skating rink.
The city expressed gratitude towards residents and community members who contributed to this initiative, notably those from the St. Lucie Skaters group who collaborated with the Parks and Recreation Department.
Skate City was originally built in 1999 as a skateboard facility featuring ramps and half-pipes but closed due to deterioration and repair costs by 2010. Last year, community members began using the site for roller skating and requested lighting support from the city. Mayor Shannon Martin supported resurfacing efforts after observing increased interest.
“This project is a wonderful example of how residents and the City can work together to create opportunities that benefit the community,” Mayor Martin stated. “We are excited to see Skate City once again be a place for people to gather, to have fun with friends and family, and to enjoy the quality of life Port St. Lucie has to offer.”
The Parks and Recreation Department completed resurfacing over an area of approximately 39,000 square feet, enhancing it for skaters of all ages and skill levels. The facility will operate daily from 8 a.m. until lights out at 9:30 p.m., with free admission.
The public is invited to attend both the ribbon-cutting event and an upcoming Valentine's Day Skate Party on Feb. 14 from 4-7 p.m., which launches the Love Your Block program funded by grants from Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation aimed at neighborhood revitalization projects in Whispering Pines.
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