According to park historians, skating in Golden Gate Park dates back to 1891 when John McLaren, the park's designer and first superintendent, built a roller rink at Children's Playground.

Skating at Golden Gate Park began in 1891, when park designer and first superintendent John McLaren installed a roller rink at the Children's Playground, according to the press release.

He runs what's called the Church of 8 Wheels, a roller rink inside an ... out there promoting skating, representing it. This is like my life's calling. The Golden Gate Park Skate Patrol was ...