On a sunlit afternoon in Santa Monica, boards hit concrete again at the newly refurbished West LA Courthouse Skate Plaza — not as a relic of skate lore, but as a renewed public space shaped by the very community that fought to preserve it.
The unveiling, led by Converse and The Skatepark Project, marked the ribbon-cutting on repairs and additions to one of the most iconic skate spots in Los Angeles. For years, the future of the courthouse plaza hung in uncertainty. At one point, demolition was part of the conversation. Instead, the space now stands upgraded, reimagined, and firmly rooted in its legacy.
“This is the ribbon-cutting on the repairs and additions that we’ve been making to the West LA Courthouse,” said Ben Anderson Bashine of The Skatepark Project during the celebration. “Skaters have been fighting to be able to skate here for years. And for the last few years, the talk was that it was going to be demoed. As soon as we heard that wasn’t the case, we jumped in.”
He credits partnerships — from Converse to local city council leadership and community advocates — for making the project viable. “Everybody was pulling for this to happen,” he said. “When you have the local council member behind you and amazing advocates in the community who are super effective at organizing, it makes it a lot easier.”
More Than Concrete: Culture in Motion
The Converse CONS team — including Louie Lopez, Gavin Bottger, Raney Beres, Sean Pablo, and Alexis Sablone — rolled through live demos, drawing cheers from longtime locals and first-time skaters alike. Lopez also celebrated the one-year anniversary of his LL Pro shoe with the release of a new colorway, tying product and place together without overshadowing the moment.
New street obstacles, designed by skaters, were unveiled to complement the courthouse’s original architecture and upgrade its stairways for broader public use. The design choices reflect a simple principle: those who skate the space should help shape it.
“That’s kind of the ethos of what we do,” Bashine said. “We’re all about helping local advocates get free, safe, accessible skate spaces built — empowering local young voices. If you skate, you know it’s more than a sport or a hobby. It’s a culture.”
Jeff Ho, a foundational voice in surf and skate culture, stood quietly near the action, taking it in. “I love the city, and I’m glad they did this,” Ho said. “It’s been going on for a long time, and it’s just a great thing for the skaters. I’m looking forward to seeing some great skaters — the guys that have been here for many years. And even the young guns.”
For Ho, the courthouse represents something elemental. “Skating brings people together in all different parts of the city,” he said. “It’s super important. It’s a meeting place. It’s free. Anybody can come.” That accessibility remains central to the mission. A skate clinic hosted by Concrete Queenz reinforced inclusivity, creating space for girls to build leadership, teamwork, and communication skills.
Investing in LA’s Skate Future
Since 2020, Converse has invested in Los Angeles youth communities through programming centered on movement, play, and creative skill-building. The courthouse reopening consolidates those efforts into a visible, tangible footprint.
Looking ahead, Bashine confirmed that the momentum will continue. The Skatepark Project is partnering on the redesign and renovation of the “Little Plaza” at Venice, often referred to as the OG Venice behind the bowls, slated for later this spring. With the 2028 Olympics on the horizon, ambitions are expanding.
“We have a lot of ambitions heading into LA28 to be able to build a ton of skateable spaces and skate parks here in L.A.,” Bashine said.
The West LA Courthouse Skate Plaza now stands as proof that preservation and progress can coexist. It’s a public space, reclaimed and reinforced. A global landmark, yes — but more importantly, a free, living meeting place for whoever shows up with a board and something to prove.
Check out the space and learn more about the history at laconservancy.org
Location: West LA Courthouse Skate Plaza, 1633 Purdue Ave, Santa Monica
Photo credits: Photo courtesy of Converse
