Alec Beck
Alec Beck is an American professional skateboarder, public space advocate, skatepark designer, and Olympic coach.
As of 2024, Beck works as the Associate Director of Advocacy & Public Engagement at The Skatepark Project.
Career
Skateboarding
Beck's skateboarding career spans over 20 years, from competing in national competitions to video parts for various brands. Beck and his ZJ Boarding House team won gold at ESPN X Games 16 held in Los Angeles.Beck was a featured athlete over three seasons on the Fuel TV, Built to Shred television series.
Beck has produced numerous video parts, including his Birdhouse pro debut video.
Skatepark advocacy
Alec was the lead advocate for the development and designer of Stoner Skate Plaza at Stoner Park in West Los Angeles, California.After his successful advocacy for Stoner Skate Plaza, Alec worked with the local council, Aaron Snyder and Nike to liberate the famed West LA Courthouse for legalized skateboarding.
Beck was hired at the Tony Hawk Foundation, now known as The Skatepark Project, in 2015. In his work at The Skatepark Project, he supports skatepark advocates across the country and helps manage high profile skatepark development including the Brooklyn Banks, Brooklyn Skate Garden, Blue Park, and others. Beck authored the Skatepark Best Practices Guide. Beck has published articles in Parks and Rec Business magazine. Additionally, Beck is a regular speaker at National Recreation and Parks Association conference education sessions and podcast.
Beck cohosted The Skatepark Podcast, a skatepark focused podcast produced by The Skatepark Project. In 2023, Beck was the guest of University of Chicago’s Architecture Professor Stewart Hick tour looking at Chicago through the lenses of urban planning and active city spaces.
Skatepark design
Beck was the lead designer for Stoner Park along with Colby Carter & California Skateparks.In 2017, Beck designed two Detroit-based skateparks with Tony Hawk and notable artists related to the Library Street Collective, including the Wayfinding Skatepark with Ryan McGinness and the It Takes A Village Skatepark at the Shepherd Art Center with McArthur Binion.