Encinitas goals to focus on skate, surf and beach volleyball

ENCINITAS — The Encinitas City Council on May 21 approved the Parks and Recreation Commission’s 2025-26 work plan, adding a new focus on surfing, skateboarding and beach volleyball after concerns that these popular local activities were underrepresented.

Parks Operation Manager David Norgard, who also chairs the Parks and Recreation Commission, presented the plan, which outlines administrative goals, community outreach, special projects and recreation service initiatives for the upcoming fiscal year.

“Specifically this year, commissioners are hiking the trails and developing content for the OuterSpatial app, naming and possible future uses of city land located at the northeast corner of Highway 101 and La Costa Avenue, formerly known as Surfer’s Point, [and] a potential pollinator garden at Pacific View Arts Center,” Norgard said.

The new addition, introduced by Councilmember Jim O’Hara, directs the commission to evaluate the recreational needs for surfing, skateboarding, and volleyball activities. The council specifically referenced a potential “Moonlight Bowl” skate feature, a project that skate advocates have previously backed in public meetings.

“I feel like we’ve got a piece of our community missing on this commission report plan, and I’d really like to see some way to have that — that huge portion of our population, our residents — included in this,” O’Hara said.

Councilmember Luke Shaffer supported the proposal and suggested the city should also explore safer bike routes to improve youth access to parks.

“If they’re able to get there — tourists that come here that want to go see certain parks, or see the boat houses or whatever — ways to get there and routes,” Shaffer said. “Connect them to those parks off the main thoroughfares, specifically to keep them safer.”

The council ultimately approved the amended work plan and also directed staff to review the process for updating bylaws and to consolidate overlapping outreach goals within the document.

“I’m crying out for our skateboarders, surfers and volleyball players,” O’Hara said. “We are the surf and skate volleyball capital of the United States.