For residents of San Diego who are interested in getting their skate on, there are a ton of options to choose from just beyond the Orange curtain, including the second-largest skate park in the state. While there have been big names and famous skaters that have contributed to the skate park world in San Diego, the communities themselves have also supported their neighborhood skate parks. Below, you’ll find a list of some skate parks that are worth checking out on your skateboard, roller skates, or BMX bike. 

Linda Vista Skate Park - Linda Vista

Courtesy of Schmidt Design Group

Courtesy of the Tony Hawk Foundation and a $4.4 million grant from Affordable Housing, the Linda Vista Skate Park opened with great anticipation in January of this year. It took a local grassroots movement and thousands of signatures to get this skate park developed. Linda Vista Skate Park features various obstacles and challenges for all levels of skaters and also hosts competitions for different skating groups. The massive 34,000-square-foot skate park is the second-largest skate park in the state of California. 

Park de La Cruz Skate Park - City Heights

Courtesy of Schmidt Design Group

Another freshly minted park is Park de La Cruz in City Heights, which also received funds from the Tony Hawk Foundation. Park de La Cruz Skate Park opened within a week of the Linda Vista Skate Park. Although it’s a bit smaller at 19,000 square feet, this skate park has much to offer. The skate park features bowls, pipes, rails, and steps, making it ideal for skaters of all skill levels. Park de La Cruz is surrounded by a standard park, which was also revamped to include a solar canopy, picnic area, walking paths, and accessibility improvements for the disabled. The park is part of a city-wide effort to build or improve 50 parks in San Diego over the next five years.

Krause Family Skate and Bike Park - Clairemont

Courtesy of ReplayXD / YouTube

The YMCA is responsible for several parks around San Diego, one of which is the Krause Family Skate and Bike Park in Clairemont. This park allows skateboards, roller skates, BMX, and even scooters, which are typically not allowed in many Orange County skate parks. The skate park features wooden and concrete bowls, ramps, and courses that serve riders on skates or BMX bikes. It’s open in the afternoons, and there’s a fee to skate at this park. 

Magdalena Ecke Family Skate Park - Encinitas

Courtesy of California Skateparks

Pro skaters Tony Hawk and Shaun White have made cameos at this San Diego YMCA Encinitas neighborhood skate park, with Shaun skating here since he was six years old. The Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA has hosted this skate park for many years and recently renovated it. The street course includes interchangeable features such as concrete ramps and plaza elements. The skate park is great for beginners and pros thanks to its designated areas. Skaters must pay a fee to skate at this park.

Carmel Valley Skate Park - Carmel Valley

Courtesy of SD Skate Parks

Carmel Valley Skate Park opened in 2008 as a public, community-run skate park in San Diego’s Carmel Valley neighborhood. The park offers 13,500 square feet and includes a challenge course and a cast in place concrete bowl. It also has urban elements such as railings, stairs, banks, and ledges. Skaters can do flips and tricks here day or night as the park is equipped with lighting for evening skating. Unlike the YMCA parks, this one is free to skate and stays open from 10 a.m. until dusk. 

Rancho Penasquitos Skate Park - Rancho Penasquitos

Courtesy of SD Skate Parks

Rancho Penasquitos Skate Park is another public community-run skate park in San Diego’s Rancho Penasquitos neighborhood. This spacious park has plenty of railings for skaters to practice their best flips and tricks. Although the park is pretty big, spectators coming to watch skaters should bring their own portable chairs because the park has limited benches for seating. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the week and gets really busy with kids around the weekends.