The Escondido City Council has unanimously approved the contract for construction of the Westside Park Skate Spot, which would become the city’s second skate park.
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The skate park, which will occupy the southeast portion of the 2.3-acre Westside Park on Spruce Street, will be constructed by GeoCon Engineering, a San Diego-based engineering consultant. The firm was awarded $1.3 million for the project’s construction, the lowest of six bids submitted to the city in April.
“I believe that we should invest in safe, positive spaces for our youth and that this place can be a meaningful improvement for the families and young people in that neighborhood,” Deputy Mayor Joe Garcia said during a meeting earlier this month.
Shane Fisher, an Escondido resident who frequents the city’s Washington Park Skate Spot, said during public comment the city is in dire need of another skate park.
“It provides an outlet for the youth to go to a safe space,” Fisher said. “They’re not hurting businesses, they’re not trespassing.”
“At [Washington Park] skate park, you will find more kids under the age of 16 than any other park in North County,” Fisher said. “I go to all the skate parks in North County and there is definitely a need in Escondido for another skate park.”
The City Council awarded a design contract to NewLine Skateparks in August 2024, a municipal skate park design and construction team. The firm has designed dozens of skate parks, including the Washington Park Skate Spot in Escondido, according to its website.
The City of Escondido and NewLine Skateparks held three public meetings between November 2024 and January 2025 to field public opinion on the design of the park.
Councilmember Consuelo Martinez said during the meeting she was excited to support the project and emphasized the excitement she witnessed in her district when Washington Park Skate Spot was unveiled in 2021.
“I saw all of the love and attention that we gave Washington Park and how busy that park is,” Martinez said. “I want us to continue to see more skate parks in our city, and this area of Escondido really does need more park amenities.”
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The skate park is expected to open at the end of the year.
