Gamlebyen skatepark is a place with soul, built by the local community, that managed – with a lot of sweat and a strong will – to transform a once degraded area by the railway into a buzzing and inclusive urban space for young and old. The concrete bowl (the first one in Oslo and built entirely by volunteer work!) was completed in 2008 and the street section followed in 2015. A year later, they added “City in the Cloud”, a playground for kids composed of several wooden houses on stilts.
The skatepark itself is suitable for both beginners and experienced skaters. It even has a mini-park for complete newbies, which is located by the playground. Surrounded by graffiti and slightly tasting of industrial Oslo, it definitely has a unique character and, what I find most interesting, radiates some sort of homely cosiness, something you will not find in new, modern and often sterile skateparks. So gather your gang and go for a session and don’t forget to check their Facebook page for current events and possible concerts.
