Six decades after Tucson opened the world's first skatepark, the city just broke ground on its newest one, and longtime skaters say the shaded Cushing Street project could reignite a scene that's cooled off since its heyday.

The project has had its setbacks, but is set to open in December, stoking excitement in longtime Tucson skaters and non-skaters alike. Members of the skating community say a designated shaded space will benefit community members of all ages.

"I think it'll boost the scene. I think more of the kids will skate," BLX Skateshop owner Zen Butler said during a recent visit to the store. "It wasn't as popular (in the past.) It wasn't a part of pop culture as much. You'd have to really want to do it."

Butler's friend, Dane Clark, said growth comes with responsibility.

"If you're going to include more people, then those people should at least be tolerant to the culture. That's how you're going to get better," Clark said.

Erik Cox saw it a little differently.

"Skateboarding is very inclusive though, at the same time, even if it was gatekept. It's a really hard thing to get good at," Cox said.

Butler, Clark and Cox have been part of the skate scene since they were children. They've seen the counterculture grow and change over the years and take on new meanings, especially with the rise of social media.

"What is considered good skating now is so much different than it used to be," Cox said. "Back in the day, you wouldn't see footage, but if you had a pro you liked, you'd see footage of them maybe once a year."

Butler pointed to a specific catalyst for that shift.

"I think Instagram changed skateboarding into what we see now. Had Instagram been nonexistent, I don't think we would've seen the same amount of change," Butler said, noting that sales spiked during COVID, as online videos pushed counterculture into the spotlight of what was trending at the time.

Since then, there's been a noticeable shift in the skate scene toward primarily aesthetics.

"There's something about Tucson, too. I think the fact that we didn't have a good park for so many years," Butler said.

Clark offered a different theory.

"I mean, people just lost interest in it," Clark said. "I'd guess it's the hot summers stopping people."

Not all change is bad, though. Those associated with BLX Skateshop expressed excitement for the new skate park, pointing to the success of the Eric Michael Ogden Skate Park at Pima Street and Dodge Boulevard.

"It's always packed," Clark said.

While the park is usually full at night, it can be more sparse during the daytime, likely due to the heat.

The Cushing skate park's description, listed on the city's website, says it will provide a dedicated space for skateboarders of all skill levels in an underutilized urban space.

"The project represents a significant investment in recreation, youth engagement, and community development," the website says.

BLX Skateshop hosted an afterparty for the June 30 groundbreaking ceremony, inviting attendees to stop by and celebrate the park's opening with music, film, food and tricks.

BLX Skateshop regularly hosts events aimed at bringing the skating community together. Advertisements for such events can be found on their Instagram and other socials.

Gabrielle Cotnoir is a University of Arizona journalism student and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at gabriellecnews@gmail.com.

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