San Diego, California * - On Saturday, April 23, the newest skatepark * in San Diego County will be open. The Rancho Peñasquitos Skate Park has been designed as a street course "for all ability levels", encompassing "a mixture of concrete and wood structures" along with "a landscaped buffer around the entire perimeter consisting of trees, shrubs, and ground cover."

Professional skateboarder Willy Santos *, a member of Tony Hawk *’s team Birdhouse * Skateboards is scheduled to kick off the skateparks *’s first event, with a ribbon cutting and skateboarding demonstration.

Representatives from Birdhouse, Bones, Gravity Skateboards, Ipath *, Adio *, Zoo York *, Jedidiah, Osiris Shoes *, Ambiguous, Arnette and Analog are expected to be in attendance, along with San Diego Councilman Scott Peters, Mayor Murphy, Park and Recreation Director Ellen Oppenheim, and Rancho Peñasquitos Recreation Council Chair Bill Diehl.

“We’re bringing in professional skateboarders and a live DJ. The opening of the event will feature a pro-skateboarding demonstration," said stated Councilman Peters. "There will be a variety of skate gear exhibitors at the event", and some free give-aways, he said.

Located between Carmel Mountain Drive and Highway 56 (Ted Williams Parkway), the day's skate park festivities will kick off at 11:00 am and continue until 2:00 pm.

The skatepark is unusual in that even though it is a state-funded park on public grounds, it is not free, and liability waivers are required, and a fence encloses the entire skate area. The one-day event is free, but liability forms must be signed and all skaters must wear helmets and pads. Every other day of the year, skateboarders must pay $5/day (or $30/for a three month pass good at any of 3 public skatepark * in San Diego. The others are Robb Field and Memorial Park). More information and the liability form can be found at www.sandiego.gov/skatepark .

Located on a local bus route as well as near "two major highways" and a shopping center, the park was architected by Schmidt Design Group of San Diego, California. The project was originally expected to cost about $1.3M, half of which was raised by September, 2003 *. The park was built on land previously owned jointly by Caltrans and the city, but ownership of the property was transferred to the city "without any additional costs".

Prior to the parks approval by the City Council in 2003, the skate park received "near unanimous votes of support" from the San Diego Planning Commission, San Diego Park and Recreation Board, the Park and Recreation area committee, the Rancho Peñasquitos Planning Board and the Rancho Peñasquitos Park and Recreation Council.

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