According to SDSKATEPARKS.ORG there are 56 skateparks in the San Diego area. Since the 1970’s San Diego has been known for it’s Skateparks. In 1976 the worlds first skatepark opened in Carlsbad and from that point on you can trace San Diego’s rich skatepark history by looking through old skate magazines.
In the 70’s it was Carlsbad and Oasis Skateparks filling the pages of Skateboarder Magazine. In 80’s flipping through a Transworld Skateboard Magazine and Thrasher you would see all the top pro’s skating the keyhole at the Del Mar Skateranch. Later in the 90’s Mike Mcgill built a park on top of the old skatepark in Carlsbad. Mcgill’s Skatepark was the training ground for many of the skaters that dominated the vert scene in the 90’s. Names like Danny Way, Alphonso Rawls, Danny Mayer, Bucky Lasek and Fred Olande all shredded the vert ramp and mini spine ramp.
After 20 years the San Diego skateparks scene is completely different. Most skateparks are free and actually BETTER than any of the previous parks. Unlike many of the older parks the new parks are designed and built by skateboarder owned companies like Grindline and New Line Skateparks. The new parks boast the most advanced skatepark materials and obstacles that are actually skateable.
Below are the top 11 free skateparks in San Diego. Mission Valley YMCA, Encinitas YMCA and the CA Training Facility are great skateparks but they require to pay a fee to skate.
- Linda Vista Skate Park
LV is San Diego’s largest skatepark is best known for it’s large street course and full pipe. There are multiple bowls that are skated by pro’s like Steve Caballero and Kien “Donger” Lieu. The vibe is easygoing and you see not only the requiste mix of skaters and scooters but roller skaters as well. The owner of the nearby skate rink was one of the only business owners in Linda Vista to help the skateboard advocacy group that was trying to get the skate park built. - Poods Park
Poods in located in Encinitas California. Named after Ian “Poods” Barry the park is one of the most popular skateparks in San Diego. There is a large streetcourse that hosts some of the greatest names in skateboarding on a daily basis. Sean Sheffy, Jamie Thomas, just to name a few. There is also a bowl that is shredded by young and old. If you search #poodspark on instagram you will see more than a few groms shredding the pool. These kids are similar to the youger locals at the Venice beach park, in that their style and level of skill would have qualified as professional in the 80's. - Alga Norte
Alga Norte has two pools and a very large street area that ends with the famous arch. Alphonso Rawls has been seen skating not only the street course but the two bowls also. There is a weird whoped dee do that isn’t that skateable but fun to try out if you are bored. Most of the locals skate the manual pad or the ledges leading up to the arch. - Prince Park
Prince park is located in Oceanside. Kyong Kim and Alphonso Rawls can be seen there skating the snake run or the Quarter Pipe in the street area. There are two very good bowls of different sizes. - Melba Bishop
Melba Bishop is right down the street from another great skate park in Oceanside called MLK. The crew at this oceanside street park is progessing at a rapid pace! It’s no wonder because the park has a great flow line that can’t be beat. - The Vista Parks
Vista is home to two parks about 100 yards from each other. One is a Street Park and the other is filled with bowls and transitions. Vista was home to the world famous Vista Street Locals that consisted of Matt Hensley, Danny Way, Brennand Schoeffel and Steve Ortega. - Cesar Solis Skatepark
This new park is one of the best designed street courses in San Diego, Located right near the southern US border this park has long ledges and Hubba gaps that makes the drive down south worth it. - Memorial
Memorial is one of San Diego’s oldest skate parks. Built in 2004 Memorial is skated by the Skate Mafia Crew as well other pro’s looking to get some footage ofr instagram. Most skaters can be seen on instagram skating the rail or the small gap, but the Memorial Skatepark has much more to offer. The completely Round bowl is both challenging and fun. There is also a large quarter pipe that only gnarliest skaters try to use as a gap. The snake run at Memorial also create some fun hips to skate. - Shockus
Officially known as the Ocean Beach Skate Park, Shockus Skatepark is named after Marc “Shockus” Delellis. The O.B. Skatepark was built in 2000 which it makes the first of the new wave parks that have been built in San Diego. The park features lot’s of fun banks and transitions. If you are looking to carve around the street course with the likes of Neil Blender this is the place for you.
- Chicano Park
One the newest Skateparks in San Diego, Chicano Skate Park is located in the historic Chicano Park just south of Downtown San Diego. This park actually features a replica of car in the middle of the street course. Downtown is near Slappys and Rec Skateshops. Memorial Skatepark is only a few miles away. - Pacific Highlands Pump Park
One the funnest parks in San Diego is the Snake Run at the Pacific Highlands Community Park. This park has two snake runs that are about the same level difficulty. Techinically it was designed for bikes but Skaters from all over San Diego come to carve stylish lines . There is an actual skatepark located about a 100 yards away. At first glance the skatepark seems a bit janky with only a few ledges and a quarter pipe, but it is actually pretty fun. One great feature of the park is the incredible kids playground which makes it a great place to bring the whole family.
Bonus: Washington Street Skatepark.
Located in an underpass near a trolley station at the bottom of Washington Street is San Diego’s only pubic DIY spot. Gnarly transitions is what the locals love about this park. One word of warning. Respect the park. This park is made by skaters, for skaters and regulated by skaters.
Reference: sdskateparks.org