The Rom facts for kids

The Rom is a famous skatepark located in Hornchurch, East London, England. It was built in 1978 and designed by Adrian Rolt. This skatepark is very special because it is a "Grade II listed" building. This means it has been officially recognized for its historical importance.

The Rom is the best-preserved skatepark of its kind in England. It was the first skatepark in Europe to get this special protection. It was also only the second skatepark in the entire world to be listed.

History of The Rom Skatepark

The Rom Skatepark first opened its doors in August 1978. It got its name from the River Rom, which flows nearby. The park was designed by Adrian Rolt, who was a top skatepark designer in the 1970s.

In 1979, John Greenwood took over the skatepark. He worked hard to keep The Rom open for many years. Thanks to him, skateboarders and BMX riders could enjoy the park until 2018. Around the same time, Andy Lomas helped start the BMX revolution at the park.

Why The Rom is Special

In 2014, The Rom was given its Grade II listed status. This made it only the second skatepark in the world to get this kind of protection. The first one was the Bro Bowl in Florida, USA.

However, the Bro Bowl was later taken apart and rebuilt in a different spot. This means The Rom is now the only full-size skatepark left that has this special heritage status. It's truly a unique piece of history!

A film called "Rom Boys: 40 Years of Rad" tells the story of the park. You can watch it on many streaming services.

Skatepark Layout

The Rom Skatepark covers a large area of about 8,000 square meters. The main part of the park, which is about 4,000 square meters, has a special concrete surface. This surface is made from something called Shotcrete, which is a type of concrete sprayed on under pressure.