New skate park opens in northern San Diego

By: K.C. GERRITSEN - For the North County Times | Saturday, April 23, 2005 10:25 PM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- A barrage of local skateboarders, antsy to exercise their grinds, both feeble and smith ---- that's skateboard talk for fancy board tricks ---- amassed Saturday morning at the grand opening of San Diego's new Rancho Penasquitos Skate Park.

Tucked neatly between Highway 56 (Ted Williams Parkway) and Carmel Mountain Road, the $2.1 million skate park is the third in the city of San Diego and the first within the northern San Diego limits.

"Some of you may not realize that San Diego has the second-largest municipal park system in America," said Mayor Dick Murphy, in a speech kicking off the event. "But what's important is that we provide recreational opportunities for all interests in the city and this park does that."

Crowds in bleachers and lining the fenced park were also treated to a twist on traditional ribbon-cutting when professional skateboarder Willy Santos snatched the red ribbon while skating off one of the park's more unusual features, a tilted picnic-table ramp. Pro skater demonstrations and vendor freebies pleased avid fans, most toting their own boards to join in the free skate that followed the ceremonies.

Councilman Scott Peters, who represents the Penasquitos area, touted the location of the park as ideally situated between two major thoroughfares.ÝHe added that previous discussion had called for construction of a skate park at Hilltop, a passive-use park, which concerned him and many others.

"What I love about this place is how noisy it already is," he quipped as he addressed the crowd. "You won't ever hear the skaters out here. This is a great use of land."

Later, in a separate interview, PetersÝstated that after ten years of planning, the new park will fill a need for the community. "In general, teens are underserved by the park system," he said. "We do a lot of tot lots for the little kids, but we don't do enough for teens. So this (park) is a great thing."

Glen Schmidt of Schmidt Design Group, who designed the park, said his company worked closely with the community and professional skateboarders, including Santos, to create the street-themed course.

"There are a lot of different ways to design these parks with different emphasis," he said. "Some are more 'bowls,' some are more 'street,' and they wanted more of the street course."

The "street" character incorporates elements that mimic the streets and malls of America, where skateboarders naturally congregate. The Penasquitos skate park boasts a unique blend of concrete and wood structures, stairways, and ramps that provide a different feel to skaters. Two palm trees in curved concrete planters add landscape relief while serving as a simulated street element for additional practice. The picnic table element, installed over a set of stairs and another 10-stair element with ledges and rails add challenge to the course, while other calmer areas draw beginner and intermediate skaters.

Adding to the design was the teaming of the building contractor and skateboarders enlisted to test the course during its construction.

"As they were building it, they were tweaking it and making it a little bit better all through the process," said Schmidt.

Such details didn't go unnoticed by younger skaters like Spencer Hamilton, age 10, who is shooting for pro-skateboarder status by the time he's 11.

"The guy who designed it was a genius," he said. "It's awesome."

The park will be open from 2 p.m. until dusk on weekdays and 10 a.m. until dusk on weekends and holidays throughout the summer. Three-month passes cost $30, and one-day admission costs $5.Ý

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