Skatepark de Gondomar (Parque Urbano de Ramalde)

The Skatepark de Gondomar is part of the Parque Urbano de Ramalde in São Cosme, the town of Gondomar just east of Porto. The council built the whole urban park under the A43 viaduct, on a strip of land that had been abandoned, and opened it on Saturday 3 August 2024 with demonstrations by well-known Portuguese skaters, music and DJs. The park runs for about 900 metres and covers more than 16,500 m², with basketball, padel and football courts as well as the skatepark.

The skatepark is the big draw. At about 1,300 m² it is one of the largest in Portugal, and it cost roughly half of the whole park’s budget. Because it sits under the viaduct, the local press describes it as covered, which matters in a region where many outdoor skateparks spend the winter wet. Don’t confuse it with the Ramalde skatepark in Porto: that’s a different place with the same name, covered on our page for the Parque Desportivo de Ramalde.

The park was designed by Marcelo Lambiasi and uses the natural slope of the ground, so the course rises and falls with the land. It’s built in granite, steel and concrete.

There are two main parts:

• A street area that copies things skaters meet in town: stairs, handrails and benches. This is where beginners usually start, rolling along the flat and trying small ledges.
• A medium-sized bowl, a smooth concrete dish that lets riders keep moving in flowing lines once they can carve and pump.

When the park was finished, a graffiti artist from Gondomar painted it, which the council said gave it a more urban feel. The builder also fitted a drainage channel to carry rainwater away from the riding surface.

Câmara Municipal de Gondomar runs free skate lessons at the park under the name Skate 4LL (“skate for all”), part of its Gondomar em Movimento sport programme. The lessons are for beginners and for people who want to improve their technique.

• Ages: 6 and up.
• Kit: the council lends a skateboard, pads and a helmet. The helmet is compulsory. Your child can bring their own board and pads if they have them.
• Clothes: comfortable clothes and trainers, preferably with flat soles.
• Registration: free but compulsory, and limited to the places available.

When we checked, the online registration form on the council page said it was no longer available, and the page didn’t list days or times. Ring or email the council to ask about the next round before you promise a lesson. The council’s general contacts are 224 660 500 and geral@cm-gondomar.pt.

Children under 6 aren’t eligible for the lessons, and a busy concrete bowl is no place for a toddler on a scooter. Four- and five-year-olds may still enjoy watching from the benches.

From 6 to about 9, the lessons are the way in. Borrowed kit means you don’t have to buy a board to find out whether your child likes it, and the flatter street area gives them room to practise pushing and stopping.

Older children and teenagers who can already ride will find stairs, rails and a bowl that takes a while to master. The park was built with competitions and community events in mind, so on some days experienced riders will be moving fast.

According to the builder, the skatepark has benches, a drinking fountain and toilets. The design includes access for people with reduced mobility, so a parent in a wheelchair or with a buggy can get to the edge of the park to watch. The courts next door give siblings who don’t skate something to do.

The council doesn’t publish opening hours, lighting times or rules for scooters and bikes, so check before you go if your child rides a scooter or BMX. Helmets are compulsory in the lessons, and it’s sensible to use a helmet and pads at any time on concrete this size. Go at a quieter time for a first visit: older riders use the bowl for tricks and don’t always expect a small child to wander across their line. Bring water in summer, even with the fountain, and a jumper for the shade under the viaduct in winter.

Gondomar’s municipal pool at São Cosme is in the same parish; see Piscinas Municipais de Gondomar for timetables. On the Valongo side of the concelho, Lipor’s Parque Aventura has playgrounds and mini golf on top of an old landfill. For a skater who wants a second park in the same weekend, the Ramalde skatepark in Porto also has free council lessons.

Is the Gondomar skatepark free?

Yes. It’s part of a public urban park and no entry fee is published. The Skate 4LL lessons were free when we checked, with registration required.

What age can children start the free skate lessons?

From 6. The council lends a board, pads and a compulsory helmet.

Is the Gondomar skatepark covered?

It’s built under the A43 viaduct, and the Jornal de Notícias called it a covered skatepark, so it stays drier than most. It isn’t an indoor building, so wind-blown rain and cold still reach it.

Can my child ride a scooter there?

The council doesn’t say either way. Check on site or with the council before you go.

Is this the same as the Ramalde skatepark in Porto?

No. Parque Urbano de Ramalde is in São Cosme, Gondomar. The Porto skatepark at the Parque Desportivo de Ramalde is a separate place, on the other side of the city.