Campaigners have asked the High Court to grant the Undercroft under the South Bank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall village green status.
Long Live Southbank wants the area protected so it cannot be moved as part of the centre's redevelopment.
Mrs Justice Lang has delayed proceedings to ask the government to explain village greens legislation.
South Bank London, Skate Boarding, BMX, Graffiti
Photographs August 2010
The space has been used by skateboarders since 1976
The Southbank Centre has pledged £1m for an alternative skate site 120m (400ft) away under Hungerford Bridge.
The area is not technically a skatepark, as it was not designed for skateboarding, but is a space which was found by skaters and adopted as a skate spot.
