The roller skating tradition on the Eastside is generations deep. Families have been coming to Skate King in Bellevue since 1974. Who could forget the games such as hokey pokey, four corners, and backwards skate? Young hearts found love as they skated round and round on those musty well-worn brown skates with the orange wheels. Laughter was echoed as you challenged your buddies to an air hockey game. And who could forget the distinct “Skate King Smell” that you took home with you after fun night of skating? The very dated décor never changed as generations have shared similar stories that create common bonds within the community.

     This local staple will be sorely missed if we don’t stand together now as community and save what little historic venues we have left. Can you image your kids growing up and never knowing the joys of Skate King!?

     As it stands, Skate King is the only roller rink on the Eastside between Federal Way and Everett. It recently had it's last official skating session, and if it is allowed to remain closed it will leave a huge void in our area. Generations of kids have enjoyed elementary school skate nights, and discovered a passion for skating and exercise at the roller rink. Is it right to deny that opportunity to future generations of Bellevue kids?

     With the closing of so many bowling alleys, arcades and rinks, Skate King is one of the few places left where young people can congregate and have some good clean fun. It's the loss of places like Skate King that push more and more kids to stay in the house and play video games. It is not for a lack of desire to get out and socialize, it is because of a lack of places to go. 

    The simple fact is that Skate King is too important to the community to be allowed to close. The Belleve Parks and Community Services Department operates 2 golf courses, an aquatic center, and multiple skate parks, community centers, and beaches. It would not be at all out of place for the Parks and Community Servies Department to operate a roller rink.

     It is time for us to stand together and fight for the things that make the Eastside such a wondeful place to live. 

     We are petitioning the Bellevue City Council to take immediate action to approcah the current owners of Skate King with the goal of purchasing the rink so it can be reopened and operated in the public interest.

Bellevue needs a community owned roller rink.

Bellevue deserves a community owned roller rink.