San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
ESCONDIDO ‘SKATE SPOT’ IN WORKS FOR PARK
The smaller site is designed with an urban-feel in mind
Work is progressing on Escondido’s newest recreational facility, a “skate spot” for skateboarders of all ages and abilities now under construction at Washington Park.
Planning for the project began in 2017, and included a community survey that showed “overwhelming positive support” for the new skater haven, said Danielle Lopez, assistant director of community services with the city of Escondido.
City officials researched the proposal, visiting other skate parks in the region to gather ideas before putting the design contract out to bid in 2018. The winning firm, New Line Skateparks Inc., held a series of public meetings to allow the new skate spot’s potential users to have a say in the project’s design, Lopez said.
The resulting project, called a skate spot because of its relatively small size and primary appeal to skateboarders who live in the surrounding neighborhood, is expected to be unveiled and open for use by mid-september, Lopez said.
Construction began in June. The total cost of the project, including design work, is $484,000, said Lopez, and the money came from developer impact fees collected by the city when new residential and commercial projects are built.
Kanten Russell, senior project manager with New Line Skateparks, said the skate spot will be 7,500 square feet.
The Washington Park skate spot is envisioned as part of a network of smaller skate spots in the city.
Also, based on suggestions by Escondido’s skateboard community, it will have more of an urban feel, with features that might be found in a downtown area, such as grind ledges, stairs and railings, designed to provide thrills for skaters of all skill levels, said Russell.
The skate spot will also feature a pump bump, a quarter pipe with radial pocket and the central design element, a five-sided pyramid decorated with stamped and colored concrete to resemble brickwork. The brick theme is a nod to an informal skate spot in Escondido that has since been demolished.
Russell, who grew up in Ocean Beach, later became a professional skateboarder for about 12 years, before his career evolved into skate park design and construction. He said some features designed to give today’s skate parks an authentic feel were repurposed from streetscapes where skating was illegal, such as concrete benches for pedestrians.
The timing of the opening of Escondido’s new skate spot is fortuitous both because of the sport’s newfound popularity, evidenced by its inclusion as an Olympic sport, and due to the pandemic, which has caused people to look for safe and healthy outdoor activities, Russell said.
Among the challenges faced by the skate spot’s design team, said Russell, was adjusting the shape of the skating area to accommodate existing trees, which will provide shade for skaters and spectators watching the action.
The design was intended to appeal to a broad population of users, including all genders, ages and skill levels. The facility is ADA accessible for people in wheelchairs.
“We want to make sure everyone feels comfortable riding this facility,” Russell said. “We want to be as inclusive and diverse as we can with these projects and use them to build community.”