Video Vortex: The LOVE Park Story | TransWorld SKATEboarding

Here's a thorough look at LOVE Park and it's impact in the global skate community. This 30-minute piece came out in the Winter 2004 issue of ON Video Magazine. LOVE Park was shut down then, but eventually came back. The parallel in some of these stories from over ten years ago is a trip. RIP LOVE.
Video / Kirk Dianda
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[@armin38822]

Stevie Williams at Love Park is like watching a bear walk trough the deep forest.

[@PotatoPlop]

Still got the DVD for this. One of my favourite documentaries ever. Bummed I never got to skate here...

[@itsyaboi516]

PotatoPlop same it was my dream to skate there:(

[@thedevilskind]

Probably for the best? Sounds like the locals would've robbed you

[@BoleDaPole]

It was sick, like a natural skatepark.

[@Thicbladi]

Sand Hanitizer I live in ct no good skate parks here I bet there’s some decent skate spots here but I’ve never been able to find a good spot here wish I were older so then I could pay for that but I’m still a kid.

[@Thicbladi]

Sand Hanitizer lucky I live on like the other side of ct and the only good skate parks have only parts for people who are really good at skateboarding and I’m not that good at skateboarding rn like I can barely drop in on a mini ramp and I can barely Ollie so I can do a board slide on a grind box but I can’t land it so I think I just need to get better and then they’ll be cool although I did go to the Bristol one once but as I said I’m bad at skate boarding so couldn’t really do anything there

[@Dabwaxington]

shout out to the older man who said they had no right to stop them from skating

[@christopherjuarez2532]

that was the mayor that had love built

[@ryanjavierortega8513]

He also happens to be a conservative figure who had a personal vendetta against Louis Kahn (one borne out of, according to most accounts, extreme envy); Kahn spent great intellectual energy on the design of a Center City that may have actually altered the way in which people view Philadelphia's entire cultural landscape, as the design was one tht not only referenced the past of the City, but the history of Architecture, as a whole. One of the most shocking love letters home, Kahn's design of the Library at The Philips Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire, was described as a tribute to the City in which he was born; the building itself is a total surprise throughout, the exterior recalling the anonymity of factory buildings such as those that populated sections near to where Kahn spent his adolescence, while the interior is a lavish praise of the geometry, as the simple shapes writ large allow for an elegant play of light that alters the landscape throughout the day and over the seasons, thereby creating a feeling wholly unlike those offered by even the most accomplished works of architecture - it may perhaps be best described as a work that accomplishes the impossible, as it captures movement. Kahn spent his career working out of an Office in Center City, and yet has but a single Building at The University of Pennsylvania, the Richards Medical Building, itself a reference to a Castle erected in 15th-century Switzerland, and a fine example of what Kahn had planned for Philadelphia, that being a City made up of disparate design elements centered around his singular Philosophy (one he expounded elegantly upon throughout the lectures given at Penn); perhaps Bacon would have focused on these references and used them as an excuse for the design element being impractical, although Kahn was certainly forward thinking, as his plan was to reinvent the City in a style reminiscent of the New Urbanism ideology, albeit with futuristic elements still not seen in American Cities. It was this that perhaps drew the ire of many, as Kahn's environmentally friendly design would have gone beyond what was accomplished within Manhattan proper, and totally effaced the role of the automobile in City life. Kahn may have been overly idealistic in his hope that individuals would want to live in a City that would have them walking more (exercise) and thereby interacting with fellow inhabitants (socialization) while concurrently effacing the ever increasing damage caused by the automobile (everything). Bacon's personality is wildly different in this Documentary than that which comes across in every account of the period where he and his Family decided what Philadelphia looked like, and while I earnestly hope he has become a more understanding figure, it is hard to imagine that the unbelievable influence his Family name holds in Philadelphia could not somehow alter the problem faced by LOVE Park's Skateboard Community.

[@alberthernandez4040]

Is he kevin bacon's dad? The actor?

[@John_Lee_]

@@alberthernandez4040 yes

[@glasscleaner9337]

fucking legand

[@andyr0ck]

I love that the guy who designed it thinks it being used for skating is ace.

[@roncriswell2685]

That's Kevin bacon's dad.

[@beav1221]

@@roncriswell2685 😮

[@MartinAston00]

When they started propping up tiles.. oh man, it went next level !

[@clay4444]

my generation. from small wheels to skating with style. these guys changed and modernized ledge skating.

[@jfncho]

Stevie's switch BS flips (kick and heel) are still the gold standard.

[@surflord1839]

I miss this place so much. So many memories of just cutting up all night. I love LOVE park. Priceless. RIP LOVE.

[@skittlemctitty]

It's so sad man - if the city had any sense they'd rebuild it just as it was before. The new Love is just sad, even with skateboarding removed from the equation. Love was an awesome park in general, and the skating just made it so much better. It was the epicenter of my life as a kid and it felt like an epicenter of skateboarding/culture - that all just died...

[@ChInOheHEhe]

for me this was the golden ERA of skateboarding, when I watched Transworld's The Reason Video, Stevie's part, damnn blown away, the best song, vibe, definitely Love ERA was the best,

[@4Thug2Life0]

Edgardo Raul Alvarado Angmen y Angmen I remember homie trying that boardslide I think and busting open his eye brow that shit always stayed with me.

[@karatekkid8314]

amen

[@Oh_its_Sheaf]

As a 15 year old kid from South Jersey that took the train over to Philly to skate love, muni, and just seeing all of these guys was such an eye opening experience that I never take for granted. Philly skateboarding has serious roots and they should open that shit back up!!

[@chortleboy]

I started skating Love in like 1985-86 pre skinny board small wheel...used to play chess with the bums and do board slides off of everything...we could barely Ollie high enough to get on the ledges with the old school wide boards...Love was just a spot them to chill and take a break...we used to skate from the sundial at Penns Landing to Love Park and hit all the spots in between down SouthSt over to ChinaTown...lots of wall rides and curb grinds...Spikes Skates was the local skateboard shop back then...it was all about launch ramps and wall rides back then and when these guys on the skinny boards and small wheels started to change the scene the the skill level got crazy....Rip Love

[@thinglizzy2718]

I watch this every couple months before I go skate lol it gets me hyped

[@MycoMatty]

The Boss flew in to Philly with two decks, hair dyed black, and a leather jacket and stuck that fucking beautiful and massive frontside flip. Exactly why they call em the Boss!!!

[@dpatrick1992]

Andrew Reynolds

[@MycoMatty]

@@dpatrick1992 aka The Boss

[@kassieraine110]

IDEA: Get the blueprints, and make some NEW Love somewhere you can skate for more than just 5-6 months out of the year.

[@Tampa7]

Seriously, i'm surprised this hasn't been done yet. Maybe sometime in the future it'll be developed.

[@tylerpersichini]

It wouldn’t be Love then. Love isn’t just about the perfect layout it is what it is because of how raw and organic it was. Perfectly placed within griddy Philadelphia its aesthetically beautiful... It defines and compliments Pennsylvania in the most authentic way.

[@jfncho]

411 On Video was so far ahead of its time.

[@c1rcama707]

12 years later and ON Video still gettin my hyped.

[@hostsofmichael]

+Steve Clancy Your hyped, is my hyped ;)

[@StereoSoundAgent]

RIP grew up skating this icon when I was young. I never thought they would completely level it though.

[@NickVanzwol]

I wish there was one of these for every skate spot that has ever existed ❤️

[@Ereyner426]

I remember coming here as a kid (maybe 5-8 years old) and just watching them it was awesome

[@charliemartin4392]

I remember seeing Stevie (Little Stevie at the time) in a video back in the day and realized I was half assin' my skating cause we skated about the same time and he was ripping what I could do, switch. Good thing Josh helped get his head back in the game, cause a rags to riches come up story is what America is really about. All done with pure determination and talent. That's why DGK will be around for a while.

[@DU0ZA]

the love park might be gone, but there is a love in skateboarding that remains...always ....love PH

[@edwardaleman1658]

I used to follow Josh and Stevie from Elite to love. Those are some of my best memories.

[@larrybecker9565]

That was awesome hearing fugazi playing in the background

[@jeremiahpatterson6232]

This was and still is to this day one of the most bone headed moves the city has ever made!

[@domprovenzano8783]

Great video! Kalis, Oyola and Stevie put their stamp on love! In the mid 90's Penny, Craeger, Daewon, Smolik, Muska were kings! But Stevie was sth different with his routines...same with Wenning and Pluhowski...

[@alexanderdavid8441]

aww man i had this dvd, watched it so many times, such good nostalgia.

[@kanescrimes4848]

Give skaters LOVE!

[@micskates420]

Pure gold!!

[@Cody-ek2lo]

Great doco

[@cambell3839]

Josh kalis nailed it Love park was set up perfect for skating and Bam was right about Chris cole that gap is giant in person

[@akiramatoi4158]

Had this on VSH the year it came out lol, this was a legendary time.. I was there for some of this.. my aunt took me (we live in philly) i was kinda young in 04 but old enuff i was skating & i remember that. (i was like 12. im 29 now) and i was just thinking. damn near every trick done down this in this video should be in "Session: Skate Sim" for historical trick challenges lol. i mean even tho it wasnt shut down for good during this time. we all thought it was going to be (we never chanced any shut down rumor's . . .untill it actually happened a few years ago.. its completely gone now.. or atleast looks nothing like this anymore last time i was out that way in like 2016-2917)

[@victorperfecto6267]

As a tribute to love park, i bought 2 pairs of the reissued lynx og

[@jonnylyden]

RIP Love Park, RIP Matt

[@kanvasloopofficialpage]

Fav park in my city Philadelphia

[@Ndycrs]

those were the times, missed those days

[@czqczq4130]

Awesomevideo👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@rategg1]

🌳🌳🌳♥️🌳🌳🌳 RIP LOVE PARK x

[@timmy2378]

rest in peace LOVE Park

[@oTgNinJAFTW]

Anyone have the tracklist of the songs from the documentary?

[@SoCalMoto626]

oTgNinJAFTW following

[@radjackson69]

The guy who designed it is kevin bacons dad lmao

[@mikeymadnez]

Skated love from 1993-the end

[@squeaknj]

Me too

[@beobe99]

13:55 is so butter

[@Laurentprimeau]

im poping off them tiles and im skating them cans

[@grass49]

Really bummed I never got to skate there before it got demolished

[@edwardvenn9192]

Dude I wanna see a movie on Stevie Williams youth, struggles, victory's and all

[@johnwoods7478]

..run.sk8te.chill. Run.sk8te.chill. ..go to the store.🤙

[@czrskates.]

2021 who else is still watching this

[@MattSezer]

Love Park today is completely unrecognizable from any of this.

[@mikeymadnez]

I can't even look at it or city hall dilworth plaza. It hurts

[@igorderzhavsky1729]

best spot 4 ever!!!

[@mattskate97]

❤️

[@alexfriedman2047]

On video was the shit along with the old 411s. They shoulda kept on video going. Lo ve seeing thee old footage from early millennia. I still have almost all of them on vhs

[@ryanjavierortega8513]

LOVE Park was lit.

[@ssbsts1239]

Best era of skateboarding EVER!

[@Royyalflush]

9:24 I can’t find this lost song right here

[@akiramatoi4158]

12:27 Daaamn 4got this song was in here.. One of my favorite songs from Tony Hawks Underground 2. Song & Artist are = "Certified - by Diverse"

[@sloveniesta]

Anybody got the track list for this? Looking for the first song, thanks!

[@ash1374]

All I know is that the band is VAST

[@vperkv6554]

If you never been to LOVE PARK, i truly am srry for you. It definitely is an experience. Just to go watch alone is fun. But when skating it, you aware tht this place is/ WAS special. Pulaski would be up there close to love , IF they had more AND BEtter ledges than whts there. Pulaski is nice though. Pulaski ( iTS in D.C.) If you didnt know.

[@skateboston420]

Skated Pulaski back in 2001 3 months before 911. It is such a dope spot just like Love and Copley Square in Boston and Washington square park in NYC, at least the other 3 plazas are still there.

[@TIGERGUTS]

Has Kerry Getz got a really small head?

[@HENNOZINGER]

Does anyone remember what crewneck Getz is wearing..what brand was that

[@jonnyv624]

i kinda wish switch mongo was still a thing

[@DCSk8er529]

True, that way you can tell someone's stance easier. You know you're extremely gnarly if you can skate switch that good.

[@zartanjawn]

what is the song in the intro? does anyone know?

[@vmvlev]

thanks man i only have the vhs tape and my player is fucked up

[@dishwater63]

+SKATAN Oh shit, it's you! Haha, haven't seen you in a minute, and then I find you on this random video. Nice!

[@vmvlev]

ProtectBravo LOL yeah thats funny .. and you even changed your profile name too . how you doing fella ? still on the VX ? did you made a video in the last time ?

[@dishwater63]

+SKATAN Yeah, I was gonna start making CoD videos again, so I changed my name, but after like 2 videos I stopped recording, haha. I don't have the VX anymore, sold it a while ago, and started to focus more on photography. I still skate, but not nearly as much as I used to. But, it's warming up around here, so I'm gonna start skating a lot more. What you been up to? Oh yeah, and I got this ON video and a ton of other skate videos still on VHS and I don't even have a VHS player anymore, haha. A lot of them old videos never even came out on DVD.

[@thedevilskind]

21:56 It was a training exercise.

[@bugwar_]

ayeeee

[@kieranliner7616]

sick

[@chrisgardiner2215]

Broke three Powell -Peralta boards in the span of 4 f**king days 😬😬😬😬

[@Audizzle]

did kalis ever do anything into the fountain?

[@BillKroger]

+Stephen Hourihan I think that's him trying to nollie it at 0:55, not sure if he ever made one though

[@Audizzle]

he responded to me on instagram he never completed the gap... which I am shocked. he is the king of love park

[@juvenromero3715]

Stephen Hourihan Kalis is more of a tech skater. In his epicly laterd he talks about how his ankles were fucked by the time the Heavy Metal video came out. He killed the shit out of the love ledges though.

[@legaspisk8erz]

RIP

[@HYENA_art_magazine]

does anybody know the soundtrack?

[@Sebastian-tn4ft]

Dude

[@everydaycliche1529]

Right

[@diegosanchez1203]

I can help you with some songs: Vast - here with me (intro) Fugazi - Waiting room Diverse - Certified

[@deestaples1059]

“with a leather jacket”

[@Michael-ro8dm]

31:23 looks like the statue of William Penn with a skateboard

[@KellBC1]

Whats the song at 7mins in.... completely forgot the name

[@the6ig6adwolf]

It's Fugazi maybe called wicked boy?

[@cn9784]

i live in center city as a 13 year old i skate muni all the time on the way to pains i’ll ride through new love every day i just want one session at love

[@psquareds4673]

What's this song name 20:33

[@the6ig6adwolf]

Song @12:06?

[@kevincharles1983]

Stevie you weren't even close to being the only one from philly. Lol

[@DCSk8er529]

No respect for any of the undercover cops who were busting skaters during that time. Disgraceful. The Philadelphia Police Department should be ashamed for doing something that low. Undercovers are for serious crimes like drug dealing. They're for people who are a danger to society. Not innocent people out to have a good time.

[@jonnylyden]

still hoping for DC to reissue Stevie's first pro model shoe

[@juvenromero3715]

durandutz with the way shoes have been going these days, I doubt it. It's all about minimalism and vulc constructions. Only companies keeping the old school alive are és, Emerica (to a small extent), and that's all I can think of sadly.

[@reecejamesvickers]

It happened

[@davebilodeau4104]

yo

[@LosAngelesDude992]

The funny thing about stevie is when hes in regular he pushes mongo but when hes switch he pushes normally

[@John_Lee_]

He's goofy

[@robertojuarez9785]

Maybe he thinks that regular is standard for every skater and goofy is swich stand

[@zzeronerzz]

"In regular"? He's goofy stance.

[@jovaniaribeirodejesus5338]

Tree

[@CranberrieSkullCandy]

dam that some shit

[@skatechatham]

Did they really spell Trespassing wrong? lol ... 26:40

[@joesmo4749]

Probably get hit by a stray bullet trying to skate there this day and time!

[@thedevilskind]

21:58 that was a training exercise to help prepare for riots if they took place in Philly.

[@delanoarts3703]

Just saying Steve said he was the only Philadelphia skater that made it out of love Chris cole was also Philadelphia love skater just saying I think all the pros hated him at the the time so he isn't in this video lol

[@61936]

It’s stupid how cities care more about people skateboarding and people building diy skateparks in unused spaces rather then people doing drugs in a public park

[@delanoarts3703]

Undercover cops to stop kids from skating lol I remember in my hometown I the 90s was like that If you skated you were a criminal any place you skated the 90s were fucked 😊

[@politicaltroll8920]

What's stopping anyone from doing a full scale reproduction?

[@juvenromero3715]

Political troll Money, permits, location, nostalgia that making a reproduction will not be like the original? Not sure. But you have a point.

[@newgenskater1]

it was an era not just a spot

[@surflord1839]

Won't be the same. This is center city Philly. The landscape played into it alot. The people. Love will never be duplicated.

[@zzeronerzz]

That is what pisses me the fuck off. and had X GAmes across the fucking street 2 years in a row. @@newgenskater1

[@jeremyhuston1]

With all of the revenue, notoriety and talent that park created, why not just make it a skateboard park and build different park? Deaf, Dumb and Stupid. That's how politics are. That park put Philly on the map and made money for them. Most towns/city's would love to have that problem. Let the bums and drug dealers do what they want, but go after the skaters who actually bring revenue into the city? Imagine if every year there was a big competition held at LOVE, similar to the Tampa am. My God what a missed opportunity.

[@cappucino108]

thanks jews

[@benpearson2272]

fs 3 doesnt count sorry

[@skittlemctitty]

Such a damn shame what they did to Love. Will never forgive it. To try to placate skaters with Payne's (sorry - glad Payne's exists but I'd rather have Love), and then to replace Love with what it is today... like what they came up with for its replacement is offensively bad. So boring. It ruined that block of Philly. So much culture gone. They should've kept it. At the very least, Payne's should have been built to replicate Love. And now they're gonna remove the pieces in Muni plaza. Center City Philly is gonna be completely dead for skating.

[@johnunderwood3132]

15th n JFK doesn’t look like that anymore. Now it’s just flat. No character what so ever .

[@BoleDaPole]

Idk why but black dudes all had this same stiff style of skating back then, they always landed tricks with thier legs stiff, never absorbing the pop.

[@beav1221]

Idk why but you talk shit.

[@chrisgardiner2215]

It's still weird seeing dudes skate goofy foot 🤕🤕🤕

[@yikes6969]

How...like half of skaters ride goofy

[@vincentmurnieks5164]

Notice how Stevie pushesh mongo all the time? If thats fakie then i forgive him.

[@punchabunchofbuttons214]

Remember, without Jamie thomas putting kalis on, kalis wouldn't have had the opportunity to put stevie bacc on. Jamie thomas is HUGE in the culture.

[@skateboston420]

Half of Jamie's part in Heavy Metal was filmed at Love, you could argue he put Love on the map first. Kalis I believe was living in Dallas so no Love footage back in 1995.