By Gina Yarbrough
Oceanside, CA–The City of Oceanside celebrated the grand opening of an expanded skate spot at John Landes Park in the Tri-City neighborhood on Tuesday.
Nearly 300 attendees gathered to experience the upgraded facility, with skaters of all ages and skill levels testing out the new features.
The Poseiden Foundation played a key role in organizing the event, bringing in professional skaters globally to lead free demonstrations and youth clinics.
To ensure the new skate spot met community needs, the City held three outreach meetings to gather public input. The original skate area, which featured aging ramps and equipment, was due for an upgrade. Professional skaters Cody McEntire and Olympic competitor Julia Brueckler facilitated workshops, and 290 residents contributed feedback both in-person and through an online survey.
The result is a 7,500-square-foot skate spot, built at a total cost of $487,624. Funding included $125,000 from the Community Development Block Grant provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as $285,520 in grant funding from the State of California’s Proposition 68.
“Skating is an integral part of the culture that makes Oceanside special,” said Manuel Gonzalez, Oceanside’s Director of Parks and Recreation. “We aimed to create a unique experience that appeals to both advanced skaters and beginners alike.”
The event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Oceanside Mayor Esther Sanchez and city council members. The mayor also received a signed skate deck from the participating skaters and representatives of the American Ramp Company, which designed and built the facility. Officials from the Offices of Congressman Mike Levin, State Senator Catherine Blakespear, and Assembly Member Laurie Davies were present, along with County Supervisor Jim Desmond.
Attendees enjoyed complimentary pizza and refreshments provided by the City, and arts and crafts activities for kids.
The Poseiden Foundation provided free skating gear and organized a special session featuring professional skaters, including World Champion and Skating Hall of Fame inductee Jen O’Brien, Andres Chong-qui of SBEC Wheels from Ecuador, Necu Videla of Sentir Skateboards, and an Olympian on Argentina’s National Team from Mexico, Ronnie Toms, an Etnies Flow Rider, and professional skater Isabelle Fried.
With its enhanced features and strong community support, the new John Landes Park Skate Spot is set to become a vibrant hub for Oceanside’s skating community.
