Rom Skatepark: The Rise, Fall, and Legacy of the UK’s Most Iconic Concrete Playground
Rom Skatepark: Born from a California Dream (1978)
Picture this: it’s the late ’70s, skateboarding is booming, and a crew of Brits decide to bring a slice of SoCal to rainy East London. In August 1978, Rom Skatepark opened in Hornchurch – a purpose-built concrete paradise modelled after the radical skateparks of California like Spring Valley’s Skateboard Heaven. Designed by legendary skatepark architect Adrian Rolt of G-Force, Rom was Britain’s answer to the West Coast scene. It had that sun-baked “California vibe” despite the English drizzle, quickly becoming hallowed ground for UK skaters looking to carve some concrete waves on home turf.
Concrete Waves and Radical Features
The iconic keyhole-shaped “Pool” bowl at Rom was even finished with mosaic tiles and real pool coping, just like a backyard swimming pool. It was one of many gnarly features spread across Rom’s 8,000 square meters of rideable terrain. Rom pretty much had it all: a winding snake run, a long slalom run ending in a freestyle bowl, a four-leaf clover bowl, a cluster of moguls (interlinked mini-bowls), a concrete half-pipe, and a massive “Performance” bowl modeled after California’s famous Paramount VertiBowl. Every inch was sculpted in smooth, fast shotcrete, so you could flow from one obstacle to the next. One minute you’re dropping into a deep twin-lobed pool, the next you’re bombing through a serpent-like snake run that gets deeper as you go – pure 70s skatepark bliss under your feet.
Skaters, BMXers & WCMX – All Wheels Welcome From Day OneRom was a melting pot for anyone who loved to shred. Skateboarders ruled the bowls, but as the 80s rolled in, BMX riders flocked to Rom’s concrete like bees to honey. The park’s design was perfect for BMX too – big transitions and smooth lines meant bikes could fly (literally). In fact, Rom’s survival through the ’80s skate slump owed a lot to BMXers taking over the place. By the 90s and 2000s, you’d see skaters and BMXers riding side by side, and later even WCMX athletes (wheelchair motocross riders) dropping in to spin around the bowls. For the locals, Rom was more than just a park – it was a second home. Generations of UK shredders made the pilgrimage to Hornchurch, and some of the country’s best got their start here – UK BMX champion Andy Ruffell basically learned to ride at Rom back in the day. The vibe was always friendly and raw: kids, teens, adults, pros – whatever you rode, you were welcome as long as you respected the park (and watched out for the occasional face-off with the concrete!). Ups, Downs, and a Historic Comeback Like any legend, Rom had its ups and downs. The park opened at the tail end of the 70s skateboarding boom, and when that initial craze fizzled out, Rom almost went belly up. By 1979 many UK skateparks were closing their doors, but Rom hung in there. Thanks to that, Rom outlived most of its peers – by the early 2000s it was one of only two surviving original 70s skateparks in the UK (the other being Harrow).
As skateboarding found a second wind in the 90s and 2000s, Rom thrived anew with fresh blood and old school cred. Its reputation grew beyond the local scene, and eventually the history books caught on. In 2014, Rom made history when it became the first skatepark in Europe to be given Grade II listed status – officially protected as a heritage site. (In fact, at the time it was only the second skatepark ever to get such status worldwide, after Tampa’s Bro Bowl in the USA.
This was the ultimate validation: the “dead” skatepark of yesterday was now recognized as a cultural treasure. Overnight, Rom wasn’t just a grungy local spot – it was a bona fide landmark in skate culture, its gnarly concrete frozen in time for future generations to appreciate. Fire and Farewell (2018–2019)
No true skate epic is complete without some tragedy. Just after celebrating Rom’s 40th birthday, disaster struck. In the scorching summer heatwave of July 2018, a devastating fire ripped through the park’s indoor section, burning down the beloved clubhouse and indoor ramps. The concrete outdoor elements survived (they’re practically indestructible), but losing the indoor facilities and equipment was a massive blow. The community rallied and hopes were high to rebuild – fundraising events, volunteer support, you name it. But mounting financial pressures (skyrocketing insurance and bills) piled on. After a valiant fight, Rom finally had to close its doors in September 2019, ending an incredible 41-year run. It was a heartbreaker for everyone who grew up at the park. Despite its Heritage Listed status, and all its legendary history, the reality of upkeep and costs caught up. The last sessions were filled with bittersweet tears and one final carve around the snake run. The lights went out on Rom as an active skatepark, at least for the time being. Rom’s Lasting Legacy
Though Rom Skatepark is closed, its legacy is far from gone – in fact, it’s cemented in UK skate culture (pun intended). The park remains intact and protected, standing quietly as a concrete museum of 1970s skate design. Skaters and BMXers still speak of Rom with reverence, and its influence can be seen in modern skateparks built during the skate revival – many new parks took inspiration from Rom’s timeless layout and flow. In official terms, Rom is recognized as an “icon of the British skateboard scene”, an enduring piece of late-20th-century youth culture. But beyond the titles and heritage certificates, Rom lives on in the memories and stories of those who rode its curves. They even made a whole documentary about it – “Rom Boys: 40 Years of Rad” – celebrating the park’s history and the community that kept it alive.
To this day, if you meet a veteran UK skater or BMXer and mention Rom, chances are you’ll spark a big grin and a flood of nostalgic tales: epic trick sessions in the Performance Bowl, summer comps on the half-pipe, or just hanging out on the deck with mates until the sun went down. Rom Skatepark may be gone as a business, but its spirit rolls on – in every backyard pool session, every DIY concrete bowl, and every rider carving lines with that same carefree stoke Rom inspired for decades. The legend of Rom will never die, because in the skate world, true icons are forever.
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