1600 Nagle Pl

Seattle, WA 98122

“The Courts,” as they’re commonly referred to, are the current heart of Seattle’s skate scene. This is somewhat dismaying, as the Courts are really just a pile of decaying wooden obstacles that skaters drag into a net-less tennis court when it isn’t being used by bike polo players. Sometimes there’s some really good stuff there, though! Failing that, there are almost always people skating there, as it’s close to 35th North, the city’s main skate shop, and smack dab in the middle of one of the busiest parks in the city’s most happening neighborhood.

The courts are what we in skateboarding refer to as a “meet-up spot”—a place to run into random people, wait for your crew, and waste tons of time skating flatground. On Fridays, however, they transform into a much more intense, populous skate jam, dubbed “Night Court,” that draws skaters from across the region. If you want to meet other people who love the same stupid four-wheel board thing you love, this is your place.

When the bike polo people give you the boot, the middle tennis court—the one with an actual net—is a great backup. Plus, the crusty concrete ledge in the back of the second court is pretty fun. Its edge has been worn past the point where grinding is possible, but it has three generations of wax on it and you can always depend on it to slide.

Bust factor: The cops gave up on the Courts a long time ago. That said, while public drinking is pretty standard at the Courts, it is also the one thing that the cops will actually come down on you for. Scheduled bike polo matches are your biggest obstacle here, and those generally occur on Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

Amenities: Whatever you want, Capitol Hill has it. Whether it’s artisan vegan ice cream or a random drunk kid selling club drugs in front of Big Mario’s, you’ll find it within a three-block radius. Pro tip: tall cans are somehow cheaper at the Walgreen’s on Broadway and Pine than the QFC over on Pike. Also, St. John’s is the most skater-friendly bar in the area.