"You can’t declare yourself king of the castle. Everybody has to feel welcome and get involved." – Dean Backos, founder of 011 Skatepark
On any given weekend, 011 Skatepark comes alive with an easy democracy: pros glide past the beginners, groups of friends lounge on the steps and at the café, graffiti artists practice their tags, people get together for a park clean-up. “The only way a skatepark can work is if it’s collaborative,” says Dean Backos, who runs the park. “You can’t declare yourself king of the castle. Everybody has to feel welcome and get involved.”
011 is creating space in a city that tends to forget how badly young people need it. Open until 21:00 on most days, the park offers a totally different kind of nightlife for Joburg’s youth – a safe, outdoor space to hang out, socialise, and stay active, far from malls or clubs.
Whether you’re a total beginner or brushing up on your skills, the park is welcoming. Even without prior experience, visitors can hire boards and safety gear and book lessons.
The revival of Joburg’s skate scene
When Backos first stepped into what would become 011 Skatepark in 2020, it was largely abandoned, collecting dust and bad habits, waiting for someone brave to bring the energy back.The park’s rebirth coincided with a larger resurgence in the local and international skate culture. Anchored in the past by parks like Boogaloos, a once legendary indoor park in Randburg, the city’s scene splintered during Covid-19 when those spaces faded away. “I grew up skating there with my older brother,” Backos remembers. “When it closed, that part of my life disappeared too. 011 was my chance to bring it back – not just for me, but for a whole community.”
"From the streets of Soweto to the Olympic Solidarity Fund. That’s what we’re building here." – Dean Backos
When skateboarding made its Olympic debut in 2020, it signalled a global shift, mirroring the renewed energy steadily gathering in Johannesburg’s scene. Backos secured the lease to the skatepark and surrounds from the council and has been tirelessly working to revamp it ever since, including building sponsored ramps, planting fruit trees, building his own arched windows, and creating a space for the country’s first and only girl-run skate shop, turning the space into a home for the community that built him.
Now that community stretches far beyond the ramps. The Johannesburg Skate Club, founded by Backos alongside Sharné Jacobs (also the founder of Girls Skate South Africa), has become a launchpad for emerging skaters, mentoring kids from Alexandra and Soweto and connecting them to opportunities that didn’t exist a decade ago.
011 is one of just three skateparks in South Africa registered with Roller Sport South Africa, and the only one in Gauteng fit for Olympic-level training. Backos and Jacobs share a clear mission: to raise up South Africa’s next generation of Olympic skaters – quite literally!
One of the kids, Omphile Mashila, has just qualified for funding from the Olympic Solidarity Fund to attend athlete development programmes. “Omphile is proof of what’s possible. From the streets of Soweto to the Olympic Solidarity Fund. That’s what we’re building here,” Backos says, beaming. There is a framed picture of Mashila mid-air in the skate shop.
011 has evolved far beyond its original scope. It has evolved into a hub of creativity and coming together. Frequent market days, live gigs and festivals, big names in graffiti (think Leigh Leroux, Tapz, Bias, Broken Afrikaans, and the likes) painting murals and hosting workshops, charity drives, and film crews in and out are all in a day’s work at the skatepark for Backos. The space can also be booked for birthday parties, photo shoots, and other events – the day before our visit, the skatepark hosted a music video shoot.
There’s a sense of rhythm to it all. Skaters drop in to the beat blasting from a Bluetooth speaker, a photographer’s shutter clicks, someone yells to their friend across the park. It’s chaotic, but symphonic, and a clear reflection of the city at large.
Building community that lasts
011’s success has made it a model for what grassroots urban projects can achieve. But Backos is realistic about the challenges. “Funding will always be the biggest obstacle,” he says. “We can only do so much with passion, but if we want lasting impact; youth centres, better facilities, we need bigger backing.”
"If kids can’t feel safe, there’s no point." – Dean Backos
Still, he’s thinking long-term. He has a pizza oven ready to be installed, a liquor licence incoming, and plans to create a Youth Centre with free Wifi so that the kids are able to do at least a little bit of schoolwork between all the excitement. Already, the park has hosted its first international exchange with Germany, exposing local riders to new cultures and competitions. “The kids see the world,” Backos says, “but they also bring that inspiration back here.” That inspiration goes both ways. Global visitors leave with a piece of Joburg’s energy. The park’s raw edges, its constant movement, its refusal to be polished – all of it speaks to the city's stubborn vitality.
Perhaps most excitingly, in October 2025, 011 hosted one of Africa’s biggest skating competitions, the Johannesburg Qualifier for the Kimberley Diamond Cup, showing local skaters and everyone else just how far their boards can take them.
“If kids can’t feel safe, there’s no point,” Backos says finally. “It’s a community collective rather than a skatepark. It needs to benefit the whole community.”
As the sun sinks and the skatepark’s hue turns from a cool grey to a soft glow, one teenager lingers near the back of the park, practising the same trick over and over. His board clatters, he huffs, tries again. In the echo of his determination, one can hear the rhythm of 011 Skatepark, and the sound of Johannesburg in motion.
If you visit 011 Skatepark
The skatepark is located at 17th Ave, JP Bezuidenhout Park in Edenvale – a 30-minute drive from Rosebank. It’s open daily from 10:00 – 18:00, Mon – Sun, with Wed, Fri, and Sat night sessions from 18:00 – 21:00.
The day rate is only R10 for spectators and R50 for skaters. The facilities include skate ramps, a skate shop, café, chill room, and beginner lessons available on weekends. For more information or the latest prices contact @011_skatepark on Instagram or visit their website.
Where else to skate in Joburg and surrounds
Beyond 011, Johannesburg’s skate scene stretches across the city, with parks that capture its energy in different ways. Here are some other great places to check out:
1. Milpark Skate Park on Empire Road is a popular inner-city spot known for its friendly community, smooth concrete, and mix of street-style obstacles and bowls.
2. The Skate School in Randburg isn’t a fixed skate park yet, but a community of skaters who meet in Ferndale to teach, learn, and practice together in a supportive, beginner-friendly environment.
3. Tighy Park, Westdene is a small but lively local spot where skaters gather to practice tricks, hang out, and film skating content.
4. Flow Indoor Skatepark, Ferreirasdorp offers a weatherproof space for skaters of all levels, complete with ramps, rails, and a lively community atmosphere.
5. Thrashers Padel and Skate in Garsfontein, Pretoria is a legendary spot for adrenaline-seekers. Built in 1996, it’s the oldest skate park in South Africa and a cornerstone of the city’s skate and alternative scene, now also home to a new padel facility.
Just starting out?
For another beginner-friendly and super immersive way to explore Johannesburg’s history, check out Ayanda Mnyandu’s City Skate Tours. Starting with a lesson for first-timers, the tour combines skating and walking to discover the city’s fascinating story from 1886 to today. Along the way, you’ll hear engaging anecdotes, see iconic buildings, and experience the culture of Joburg – no prior skateboarding experience required. The tour lasts around three hours, runs all year, and departs from Curiocity Backpackers, 302 Fox Street in Maboneng. Book a City Skate Tour here.
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