How the National Park Service keeps skating in Washington, D.C. fun, safe and open to all

Image via the NPS

Can you remember the last time you laced up a pair of roller skates? In Washington, D.C.’s Anacostia Park (a national park), roller skating isn’t just a hobby— it’s a full-blown tradition with deep local roots. In 1976— during America’s Bicentennial— the National Park Service (NPS) built something exhilarating— the Anacostia Roller Skating Pavilion. Architect Colden “Coke” Florence designed it as a modern twist on a classic Washington landmark, calling it “a classical temple in a green setting.”

A reporter at the time had a more colorful take, calling it “a giant jukebox playing music to skate by.” Either way, it was —and still is— a place to skate in style!“