Supervisor Joel Anderson offers support to Ramona skatepark at its Fall Season Party

San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson attended the Fall Season Party at the Ramona Skatepark Champions’ pop-up skatepark on Nov. 6.

Anderson and his communications coordinator, Paige Bounds, were able to see first-hand the effort put into giving the 60 or so Ramona kids in attendance that day a safe space for all-wheels recreation.

Anderson shared a hopeful message for volunteers and families attending the event at 424 Letton St. about taking action on building a permanent skatepark in Ramona.

Ramona Skatepark Champions’ President Tracy Engel said she heard less hopeful news at a Nov. 1 meeting of the Parks and Recreation Subcommittee of the Ramona Community Planning Group. Engel asked a county staff member about the potential for designating land as an alternative to putting a skatepark on the proposed Ramona Intergenerational Community Campus (RICC) site near Ramona Library. The staffer indicated that selecting an alternate site would not be possible, she said.

“Apparently, the skatepark was conceived as part of the RICC, and the county is committed to that course, regardless of the prolonged delays and roadblocks it is placing in front of the only part of the concept park that Ramonans have petitioned for and placed on our Planning Group’s priority list,” Engel said.

Skateboarders and scooter riders hear the results of raffle prize winners at the Skatepark Champions’ Fall Season Party.

(Zach Hinton)

Engel and Skatepark Champions advocate Dawn Perfect relayed that message to Anderson during the event. Perfect told Anderson that Skatepark Champions is going to “extraordinary” lengths to give children a skatepark and that the pop-up location may close at the end of this season because the property was sold to local developer Eric Webb. Skatepark organizers currently do not know where it will open in the spring.

In response, Anderson suggested Skatepark Champions supporters speak to county Land Use Director Greg Kazmer and tasked his assistant with making the introduction.

“This person oversees land use and is the one who will, at Supervisor Anderson’s express encouragement, explore the idea of getting dedicated land and building a skatepark in Ramona in a ‘near future’ scenario,” Engel said. “Supervisor Anderson appeared to understand the message the Champions were delivering.”

During the party, Anderson stood among the parents as the children skated. Later, he awarded coaches Sergei Perhach-Owens, Ethan Shohara and Zach Hinton certificates of appreciation for helping to expand the pop-up skatepark program to include all-wheels and a six-day per week schedule.

Anderson also recognized the efforts of the Skatepark Champions’ board of directors and contributions of donors. He gave special recognition to Nora Seidl of Packards Coffee Shop and Seidle’s Party Supply Rental for being the first donor and a dedicated supporter of the nonprofit.

Prizes were awarded to raffle winners Edgar Avalos, who won the skateboard gift basket, Braydon Brown who won a scooter, Keith O’Neal who won a second skateboard, and Bryce Kirkland who won a BMX bike donated by CC Cycles bicycle shop of Ramona.

Bryce Kirkland, left, celebrates winning a BMX bike with Supervisor Joel Anderson at the Fall Season Party raffle.

(Zach Hinton)

Before leaving, Anderson offered Hinton and Boy Scout Brando Duran a spot in a county internship program where they will gain job skills and learn about government operations.

For more information or to make a donation, visit ramonaskatepark.org/sponsor-a-skateboarder. To dedicate funds to a future skatepark building project, donate to the “Buy-a-Brick” campaign at ramonaskatepark.org/buy-a-brick. Bricks will display a custom inscription on a memorial wall at the future permanent skatepark and in the meantime the inscription will be displayed on a “Virtual Donor Wall” at ramonaskatepark.org/buy-a-brick/virtual-donor-wall.