Learn to Skate Clinics | ChattSkates
Chattanooga calls itself one of the greatest outdoor cities in the country. ChattSkates is here to make sure that's actually true for everyone.
We're stoked to name ChattSkates our April 2026 grant winner! This freshly minted 501(c)3 nonprofit has been building and activating the greater skatepark community since spring of 2020 — 30+ events, thousands of attendees, and a hand in launching Chattanooga's very first "Learn to Skateboard" program in partnership with Outdoor Chattanooga back in 2022. Over 150 local youth and adults took their first roll that year. Then the clinics went quiet. ChattSkates decided not to wait around for someone else to bring them back.
With their $1,500 UNFoundation grant, they're building out a fleet of skateboards, ramps, and safety gear to bring free Learn to Skate clinics directly into rec centers, parks, churches, and schools across the city — with a clear priority on underserved communities. They're also covering the operational nuts and bolts: insurance, licensure, event fees, and fundraising merch to keep the whole thing rolling long-term.
Oh, and while they're at it? They're pushing to change a little-known Chattanooga law that makes it illegal to ride a skateboard downtown — even as a form of transportation. Yeah, we said what we said.
ChattSkates isn't just building ramps. They're building access, equity, and a front door into a community that's been here all along — and three locally owned skate shops are pretty happy about it too.
Congrats, ChattSkates!
Alex Reed, Nollie Kickflip. photo Brent Sanders
