'Love Malmö' is a landmark skateboarding project in Malmö, Sweden, recreating part of Philadelphia’s iconic LOVE Park using salvaged granite from t...
'Love Malmö' is a landmark skateboarding project in Malmö, Sweden, recreating part of Philadelphia’s iconic LOVE Park using salvaged granite from the original site. LOVE Park, long considered a global mecca for street skateboarding, was dismantled in 2016, and much of its granite was stored away. In 2019, a chance meeting at the Pushing Boarders conference connected filmmaker Brian Panebianco—who had meticulously measured LOVE Park before its demolition—with Gustav Edén, Skateboarding Coordinator for the City of Malmö.
Driven by a deep respect for skateboarding’s cultural heritage, Edén worked with Philadelphia officials, SkatePhilly, and legendary local skaters to secure unused granite. A key figure in preserving the material was “Love Park Heather,” a lawyer and skater who ensured the slabs were saved. By 2024, Malmö launched 'Love Malmö', installing the granite in the city’s skate hub near Svampen ledges. The space is not a full replica, but a carefully designed “interactive monument” that celebrates LOVE Park’s influence without appropriating its most iconic elements.
The project is part of Malmö’s broader strategy of integrating skateboarding into urban development, championed by institutions like Bryggeriets Gymnasium and the Skate Malmö initiative. 'Love Malmö' emphasizes community collaboration, cultural respect, and sustainable urban reuse. It also mirrors efforts in Philadelphia, where SkatePhilly is working to protect Muni Plaza, the city’s last central skate spot, using similar principles of heritage preservation and multifunctional public space.
'Love Malmö' is more than a skate spot—it’s a transatlantic tribute that honors Philadelphia’s skateboarding legacy, while showcasing how cities can elevate skate culture as a tool for community-building and public engagement. Future collaborations between Malmö and Philadelphia may link youth programs and even spark conversations about a full LOVE Park rebuild, cementing skateboarding’s place in global urban history.
