After 26 years as Milwaukee’s only indoor, all-wheels skate park, Four Seasons is suddenly on the brink. A possible change in building ownership could force the longtime operation to close or pack up, and for riders and parents who treat the place like a second home, the news has landed like a gut punch. Owner Jeff Gozdowiak says he is weighing every option he can, but warns that uprooting the park is far from simple, according to CBS 58.
As reported by CBS 58, a pending sale of the building has put the park’s more than two-decade run in jeopardy. Gozdowiak told the station that “the current landlords didn't benefit from the building in the way that they were hoping when they originally bought the property.” He said he is looking into a move, but financial realities and zoning rules make relocation a long shot, adding, “We’re going to work through it and see what comes out of the other end.”
Community hub on thin ice
For years, Four Seasons has been more than just ramps and rails. It has served riders of all ages as a winter training ground, hangout spot and unofficial clubhouse, a status that was on full display when it hit its 25-year milestone. TMJ4 covered that anniversary, noting that Gozdowiak had already been posting videos asking the community to help keep the doors open. The park’s intricate wooden build and custom features are laid out in detail on the builders’ project page, a reminder of how expensive and complicated a move would be; see Team Pain for the project listing.
Riders react
CBS 58 spoke with riders who said they were stunned and scared of losing the only dependable indoor place to ride in the area. One BMX rider told the station he was “devastated,” while skateboarder Aiden Noonan said Four Seasons is where he’s “made a lot of great memories, and a lot of great friends.” For many, the thought of those friendships scattering to the wind feels almost as heavy as losing the ramps themselves.
Why relocation isn’t simple
Even if a new home for the park could be found, getting there would not be as simple as loading a few rails into a truck. The cost of securing a large enough building, together with zoning requirements for a facility full of indoor ramps, makes a quick move unlikely. The park’s wooden ramps and custom bowls, documented in the builders’ project write-up, are deeply tied to the current space and layout. The project is listed as a wood build on Team Pain. Regional skate directories flag Four Seasons as a rare indoor option for the area, underscoring how big a hole its loss would leave for year-round riders; see US Skateparks.
What’s next
For now, Gozdowiak says he and his staff will keep grinding through the possibilities, trying to figure out whether a relocation or some other lifeline is realistic. Riders and local advocates plan to watch closely as the building’s fate, and by extension the park’s, is decided. If the worst-case scenario plays out, the community that grew up around Four Seasons could find itself chasing that same sense of home a lot farther from Milwaukee.
