Graveside DIY (Skatepark)

The site began as a "closely guarded secret" in 2016, founded by a small group of local skateboarders on a 13-acre parcel owned by the Islamic Association of Raleigh. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the park's profile grew as a second generation of skaters expanded the site into an 18,000-square-foot facility. Construction was funded entirely through community donations, GoFundMe campaigns, and the sale of merchandise, raising approximately $20,000 for materials such as concrete, cinder blocks, and rebar. Volunteers, including professional concrete finishers and carpenters, provided the labor. On December 31, 2024, the property was sold to Blue Heel Development for $1.25 million for the construction of a 57-unit subdivision. A farewell event was held in mid-December 2024, and the ramps were officially demolished by developers in February 2025. == Features ==

Graveside was characterized by its evolving, hand-built obstacles. Key features included: • The Loop: Built in 2023, it was one of the only full concrete loops at a DIY park in the Southeast. • The Punk Wall: A six-foot-tall vertical ramp built in 2022 that served as a centerpiece for photography and local skate videos. • Rainbow Coping Quarter Pipe: A technical transition feature added in 2023. The park's proximity to a historic family cemetery—the resting place of descendants of John Winters, Raleigh's first Black city council member—gave the site its name and a unique cultural atmosphere. == Culture and advocacy ==

The park was home to Skate Forward, an organization founded by Nikki Knapp dedicated to promoting inclusion for women, femme, and non-binary skaters. == See also ==