Optimist Skatepark Grand Opening – July 25 in Pocatello
The wait is over! Pocatello’s Optimist Skatepark Grand Opening is officially happening on Friday, July 25 2025 at 12:15 PM, located at 972 N. 7th Ave.
This brand-new public skatepark represents more than just a fresh slab of concrete. It’s the result of over a decade of community effort, vision, and local advocacy—due in part to “D’Beau” Darin Black of Deckadence Board Shoppe, who pushed for this project tirelessly, even taking the idea to Mayor Blad years ago.
🎶 Deckadence will be on-site running the sound system and DJing the event, keeping the energy up as the City of Pocatello leads the ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside “D’Beau” Darin Black (Deckadence), the Nichols family, and other community supporters. Skating kicks off immediately after.
🛹 A Unique Park Built for Our Town
This is the first bowl-style skate feature ever built in Pocatello, and it’s already earning attention. One standout feature is the Chevy Memorial Ledge, honoring a local skater and funded by the Nichols family. The “IDAHO” over-vert section and diamond grind coping were funded by the local nonprofit supporting this build, bringing a unique and authentic touch to the park. The design idea for the Idaho feature was contributed by D’Beau, made possible by community donations to the local nonprofit supporting this build.
“It’s not just concrete and coping—it’s the foundation of the next generation of skaters.” — “D’Beau” Darin Black, Certified Skateboard Instructor & Owner of Deckadence
Optimist Skatepark is a public space, built to last and grow with our skate community. Let’s show the city we know how to treat it right and keep it solid for future riders.
🎓 Private Skateboard Lessons Now Available
Whether you’re just starting out or want to level up, Deckadence offers private one-on-one skateboard lessons, taught by the area’s only certified skateboard instructor. Lessons take place in our indoor training facility, and all gear is provided.
✅ We also accept Idaho Empowering Parents Grant funds. 📞 Call 208-220-6750 or click here to learn more.
📍 Grand Opening Event Details
📅 Friday, July 25
🕛 Ribbon Cutting at 12:15 PM
📍 Optimist Skatepark – 972 N. 7th Ave (Ross Park)
🎶 Music by Deckadence Board Shoppe
🛹 Community Skating After Ceremony
This is a huge milestone for the Pocatello skate scene. Bring your board, bring your friends, and bring the hype. Let’s kick this off right—and help keep Optimist a space we can be proud of for years to come. 💪
Official City of Pocatello flyer promoting the Optimist Skatepark Grand Opening on July 25 at 12:15 PM.
June’s heating up, and the skate energy in Pocatello is real. Here’s everything you need to know about Pocatello Skatepark Updates, upcoming events and opportunities to ride.
🛹 Go Skate Day Celebration – June 21 at Ross Park
Mark your calendar for Friday, June 21st from 4–7PM at the old Ross Park skatepark.
Hosted by @SkateIdaho and Deckadence Board Shoppe, this year’s Go Skate Day celebration brings the community together for:
🎤 Sound System & MC’ing by Deckadence
🍕 Food by @BraizenPizza
🎁 Raffles & giveaways
🕵️♂️ Scavenger hunt for the kids
🔥 Skate comps and fun for all ages
Pull up, get hyped, and help us celebrate the future of skateboarding in Pocatello!
🏗 Pocatello Skatepark Updates – July 4th Opening Projected – Check back for grand opening date
The new Pocatello skatepark is taking shape. The bowl has been poured, transitions are sculpted, and flatground is laid. The crew from Artisan Skateparks went full throttle to get us to this stage.
Next steps include drainage and irrigation work to be completed by the City of Pocatello. While the park may look finished, it’s not ready to ride just yet. We’re asking the community to be patient and respectful—riding before it’s officially opened could cause damage or delays.
📅 If all goes according to plan, the skatepark will officially open the weekend of July 4th.
💬 “Let the concrete cure!” We’re working closely with the City, Skate Idaho, and Artisan to make sure the park opens safely and on time.
The Nichols family, whose generous donation in memory of their son Chevy added some incredible features in his honor
The City of Pocatello for funding this long-overdue project
🚫 This park took a long time to make happen—don’t mess it up by skating it early. If we take care of it and show our gratitude, we increase the chances of a Phase Two in the future.
Our Wizard Stix Sessions are relaxed, all-level group rides to keep you pushing, rolling, and connecting.
🛹 All skateboard types welcome—longboards, cruisers, and standard setups 📍 Location changes weekly – check our Instagram Stories or Facebook page every Tuesday or Wednesday or call 208-220-6750 to get the latest meetup spot.
These rides are all about confidence, community, and good vibes. No pressure—just pull up and ride.
📚 Private Skateboard Lessons in Pocatello – Now Booking
Skate lessons are back and open for booking! We offer private, one-on-one coaching in our indoor facility with all safety gear and boards provided.
✅ Taught by the only certified skateboard instructor in the Pocatello area ✅ Nearly a decade of experience teaching youth ✅ Safe, supportive environment ✅ Discounts on complete skateboard setups for students ✅ We accept Idaho Empowering Parents Grant money – call for details
Whether you’re a beginner or ready to step up your game, Deckadence Board Shoppe is the home of proper setups and proper progression.
Deckadence Launches Our First Fucking Awesome Drop – Featuring Mark Gonzales’ Class Photo
New brand. Special drop. Skate history in your hands.
Deckadence Board Shoppe is proud to announce our very first drop from Fucking Awesome Skateboards, featuring the rare Mark Gonzales Class Photo Deck — a Fucking Awesome Skateboards Mark Gonzales Deck release for the books.
Who is FA, Who is Jason Dill and who is mark Gonzales?
Fucking Awesome (FA) is a brand born from raw creativity, street-level grit, and high art. Founded by Jason Dill and Anthony Van Engelen in 2014, FA quickly made its mark with bold graphics, unconventional ads, and a true-to-skateboarding spirit.
Jason Dill is a name every real skateboarder knows. Growing up in Huntington Beach, turning pro by 17, and becoming a legend through Alien Workshop classics like Photosynthesis and Mind Field, Dill’s story is skateboarding itself: fast, messy, brilliant, and unforgettable. Today, he brings that same chaotic beauty to FA, making it one of the most respected names in skateboarding and streetwear worldwide.
About Mark Gonzales Widely considered the godfather of modern street skateboarding, Mark Gonzales — aka “The Gonz” — revolutionized skateboarding in the late ’80s and early ’90s. His fearless style, inventive tricks, and creative spirit inspired generations of skaters to think outside the lines. From Video Days to his ongoing art and influence, Gonz’s legacy lives on both in skateboarding and the broader world of art and culture.
Why This Drop is Special: Mark Gonzales’ Class Photo
This isn’t just any FA drop. This Fucking Awesome Skateboards Mark Gonzales Deck release features a special graphic — a real class photo of Mark Gonzales, “The Gonz,” one of the most influential skateboarders of all time. Gonz changed the way people thought about skateboarding — with style, humor, and a fearless spirit.
Mark Gonzales, immortalized: The actual class photo used for the new Fucking Awesome Gonz Deck, available now at Deckadence.
“And now, a word from Dill…
When I was 9 my family moved into a house across the street from where Ed Templeton lived, on Alabama Street in Huntington Beach. On that one small block lived so many skateboarders, all these teenage skate dudes, they were all so good, I was a little kid, I sucked, they were mean to me, but I got better at skating and it seemed that the better I got the less they would pick on me. I listened intently to everything they said, I mimicked what they did and they would get mad at me and tell me to stop mimicking them. The one person they talked about the most and who they also mimicked the most was Mark Gonzales, I heard them talk about him so much before I ever even knew what he looked like. Gonz. They talked about this person they called Gonz. I finally saw a picture of him in a magazine and that year as I got more and more into skating, I started putting pictures of Mark on my bedroom wall that I shared with my older brother Chris. His side had pictures of The Style Council, The Who, The Clash and pictures from the movie Quadrophenia. I am now 11 years old, fully submerged in skateboarding, fuck G.I. Joe, fuck Transformers, I didn’t like the kids at my school, I skated and hung out with this teenage group of skateboarders and I would bash my face into the ground, get knocked out and break bones and it was all so epic. I still watched cartoons but other than that, I felt as though I was no longer a child, more like a feral animal.
One evening, I went with my Mother to the grocery store, my poor Ma worked such long hours, my Dad was in jail…I knew she was upset by this feral animal that had replaced her little boy who now only hung out with teenagers. I loved my Ma, but I know the way I now looked and behaved freaked her out, even without her saying much of anything about it…We turned down one of the aisles and for some reason I looked back as we were turning and walking not more than a few feet behind us was Mark Gonzales. I can’t really articulate what I felt when I saw him, I suppose I was just dumbfounded, it was him, the guy all the teenage skate dudes idolized and I now did as well, that’s Gonz, that’s my idol. I saw him one more time in another part of the store, I saw him, he saw me. I’m pretty sure he knew I knew who he was, and that was it. I saw Gonz.
Over the next few years I would see Mark skating at Huntington Beach High School, Mesa View, at that same Ralph’s but in the parking lot skating the curbs, I was there skating too, I got to witness him do things that were never on film, I was so lucky to be alive and understand that I was in the presence of greatness. A greatness that would have a tremendous effect on me and the one person with the biggest impact and influence on my career in skateboarding. When I first saw him he was only a teenager, trip out. If an 11 year old me knew that one day I would be making a skateboard put out by my very own company with a teenage Mark on it, Haaaaa, my tiny mind would have exploded…I’m very appreciative of Mark and I am so very happy to make this board available to people that have also been influenced by the man that I now call my friend. Mark Gonzales.”
To have Gonz’s class photo printed across a full line of decks is a rare tribute — a true collector’s item for riders and fans alike.
Full Size Run — Limited Quantities Available
We have the Fucking Awesome Skateboards Mark Gonzales Deck available in a full size range. Whether you skate them or hang them on your wall, you’ll want to act fast. FA decks always move quickly — and this drop is extra special.
Available now in-store and online. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.
“At Deckadence, every new brand we bring in is chosen with heart. FA isn’t just a new name on the wall — it’s a celebration of skateboarding’s past, present, and future. We’re proud to make this connection with our local scene.” -DB
Ready to Roll?
Get your hands on the Fucking Awesome Skateboards Mark Gonzales Deck — and own a piece of skateboarding history. See you soon at Deckadence.
The Push Behind The Park: Our Radio Interview with BYU-Idaho Radio
This week, I had the opportunity to speak with BYU-Idaho Radio about something close to my heart—Pocatello’s new skatepark at Optimist Park.
We talked about how it all began. Since around 2012, I’ve been advocating for a real, permanent skatepark. Not just for myself—but for every skater in this community who deserves a safe, fun place to ride.
Skateboarding shaped my life. I’ve been skating since middle school, and over the years, it became much more than a hobby. It taught me resilience, creativity, and the power of community. That same spirit drives everything we do at Deckadence Board Shoppe.
During the interview, we discussed the decade-long push for this project. From community meetings to city conversations, I never stopped showing up. I kept going because I knew how much this park would mean to local skaters—young and old.
The new skatepark isn’t just a collection of ramps. It’s a space for growth, connection, and self-expression. Kids need that. Skaters of all ages need that. Pocatello needs that.
We also touched on the role of local shops. Deckadence was born because I saw a need. Big-box stores can’t build culture. But a true local shop? It supports the scene, invests in the future, and makes sure the next generation feels seen and supported.
If you’ve ever wondered why we care so much about the scene—or how something like a skatepark gets built from the ground up—this interview pulls back the curtain.
Hours is Yours: Why We Support Skater Owned Brands
It ain’t always easy sticking to your guns these days, right? Here at Deckadence, we’re dedicated to supporting skater-owned. It’s our mantra, what we live and breathe. But sometimes, you can only roll with what the people are actually backing.
Case in point: Hours is Yours. This spring’s footwear drop? Seriously rad. We managed to snag one shoe, and honestly, we think it’s got that sweet spot appeal – from the core skaters to the chill cruisers and even the sneaker fanatics just looking for something legit.
Yeah, we’d have loved to bring in the whole Hours is Yours drop, especially the DILO PRO and the rest of their killer lineup. As Dennis Martin, Designer at Hours is Yours, said, “As a skater-owned brand, we take pride in pushing boundaries while staying true to the culture. The DILO PRO is a testament to our dedication to craftsmanship and progression in skate footwear.”
Clean lines and classic vibes: the Hours is Yours DMC-1.
Mega-Brands not adding much
But hey, a lot of folks are still stuck on those mega-brands that feel more like they’re leeching off skate culture than actually contributing to it. And those big guys? They don’t exactly rush to answer our emails. Maybe we’re too tiny, too much of a local vibe? Maybe we’re just kooks in their eyes! Who knows?
Clean lines and classic vibes: the Hours is Yours DMC-1.
Skaters Supporting Skaters
But major props to Hours is Yours for keeping it 100%, skater-owned and operated, just like your favorite little spot, Deckadence. We’re cool with being the small shop. The malls can have their thing. We’ll be here, supporting the real deal, one awesome shoe at a time.
Clean lines and classic vibes: the Hours is Yours DMC-1.
Support the brands that support Deckadence
By choosing brands like Hours is Yours and shops like Deckadence, you’re investing in the future of skateboarding. See for yourself – click here to explore the new Hours is Yours DMC-1 shoe!
