Back in the late seventies, Glasgow had a skatepark that was the place to be.
Kelvin Wheelies, in Kelvingrove Park, opened in 1978 with bowls, a slalom run, and a half-pipe that drew skaters from across the UK. Sessions cost £1.80, and the park even hosted the first Scottish Skateboarding Championships.
But the hype didn’t last. By 1983, safety worries, high costs, and a drop in interest led to its closure. The park was then buried under grass, hidden from view for decades.
According to reports, archaeologists from the University of Glasgow are digging it back up.
From 25–29 August, they’ll excavate the site with help from volunteers and students. The project isn’t just about concrete; it’s also about memories. Skaters and locals are being asked to share old photos, videos, and stories to create an archive that keeps Kelvin Wheelies alive in people’s minds.
For many, the project is personal. Jamie Blair, owner of Clan Skates and a former member of the Kelvingrove team, remembers the park’s glory days. “When Kelvin Wheelies opened, skaters from all over the UK came to try it out,” he said. “Glasgow suddenly became the place to be for skateboarding.”
Even though traces of the old park can still be spotted near today’s modern skatepark in Kelvingrove, there’s nothing explaining its history. This excavation aims to change that, giving the site the recognition it deserves.
Skateboarding has made a big comeback since those days, from video games in the nineties to its debut at the Olympics. But in Glasgow, the spotlight is turning back to where it all began — a buried skatepark that once shaped a generation.