OCEANSIDE — City leaders, residents and professional skateboarders gathered late last month to celebrate the grand opening of the expanded skate spot at John Landes Park in Oceanside’s Tri-City neighborhood.
Previously, the skate area consisted of a small concrete pad with minimal features, excluding ramps, built using repurposed materials from another park. The newly completed 7,500-square-foot skate spot marks a significant upgrade, offering new opportunities for beginner and advanced skaters alike.
“Skating is an integral part of the culture that makes Oceanside special,” said Manuel Gonzalez, Oceanside’s director of Parks and Recreation. “We have some amazing skate parks, and we tried to balance the need to create a unique experience for advanced skaters with elements that would appeal to youth and beginners.”
The city hosted three public outreach meetings in early 2023 to gather input on the project. According to the city, professional skateboarders Cody McEntire and Julia Brueckler, an Olympic athlete, led the in-person workshops. Approximately 290 people participated in the in-person and online surveys.
Construction began in November and was completed in nearly five months. The $487,624 project was funded through a mix of local and state grants. The city used $125,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help design the new space.
An additional $285,520 came from California’s Proposition 68. San Diego Gas & Electric also expedited a nearby project to facilitate the skate spot’s expansion.
Nearly 300 people attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 25, which was organized with support from the Poseiden Foundation, a local nonprofit that promotes youth skateboarding. The event included free skate gear giveaways and skate demos and clinics for children.
Professional skaters in attendance included Jen O’Brien, a world champion and Skateboarding Hall of Fame inductee, along with Andres Chong-qui of SBEC Wheels, Necu Videla of Sentir Skateboards and the Argentinian national Olympic team, Ronnie Toms of Etnies Flow Rider, and Isabelle Fried. Videla flew in from Mexico and Chong-qui traveled from Ecuador for the event.
Local elected officials in attendance included Mayor Esther Sanchez, Deputy Mayor Eric Joyce, and Councilmember Jimmy Figueroa, who grew up in the Tri-City community.
“The newly revitalized skatepark at John Landes offers a vital recreational space for our skating community, youth, and families in the Tri-City community and throughout the city,” Figueroa told The Coast News. “After years of much-needed care, the neighborhood is excited to see this space restored.”
County Supervisor Jim Desmond and representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. Mike Levin, state Sen. Catherine Blakespear, and Assemblymember Laurie Davies also attended.
As part of the ceremony, Sanchez received a skate deck signed by the professional skaters and staff from the American Ramp Company, the skate park’s contractor.
The skate spot is part of a series of recent investments in John Landes Park. Last year, the city renovated the outdoor basketball courts, and Gonzalez said the city plans to install 36 solar-powered security lights to enhance safety.
“We are also looking at conducting a master plan to engage the community in ongoing improvements to the park, as well as other improvements to the existing community center, which has Housing and Neighborhood Services, Library, and Parks and Recreation Department operations,” Gonzalez said via email.
Figueroa noted the city has worked “tirelessly to breathe life into John Landes Park” over the past few years.
Previously, the city ceased all operations and programming at the former recreation center in 2008 due to the Great Recession. MiraCosta College took over the space during the last decade through a lease with the city, using the building to run its various trade education programs.
In 2023, the city reopened the community center using American Rescue Plan Act dollars.
“With the skatepark’s renewal, the reopening of the community center, and other park improvements like the basketball court, this space represents a brighter future for our Tri-City community,” Figueroa said.
In addition, the city plans to seek public input on a proposed pump track at El Corazon Park Site 1. The City Council is scheduled to consider the project’s contract on April 23, and a community meeting is planned for the summer.
Gonzalez added that the city is also evaluating both short- and long-term improvements to the Libby Lake skate spot.
