Parks & Rec ad hoc recommends feasibility study for additional skate facilities, urges city support for Exposure Skate

The Parks and Recreation Commission’s skate ad hoc recommended that the city commission a feasibility study to identify potential locations for at least one additional skate bowl or skate facility and that the commission consider elevating the nonprofit Exposure Skate as a priority partner for city support.

Ad hoc members summarized an analysis of existing local skate infrastructure: Encinitas has one high‑use skate bowl (the Patricia A. Rocco/Pooeds/ECP facilities), smaller street‑style areas at Olympus and Leucadia Oaks, and active grassroots events such as the annual Exposure Skate competition. The ad hoc reported site candidates for further study included Moonlight Beach, Glen Park, Encinitas Community Park (ECP) and Leucadia Oaks. The ad hoc noted that Moonlight Beach is publicly managed in part by the State of California and that any work there may require state concurrence and permit review.

Staff reported that prior conversations with California State Parks indicated that the state would not engage in a formal approval process without a completed proposal and that preliminary feasibility/design work (engineering/permit packages) could cost in the low hundreds of thousands of dollars. Staff said they had had multiple outreach attempts and contacts with state officials but that state concurrence would require formal submittals and design work before the state would take a position.

The ad hoc recommended two steps: (1) complete a city‑funded feasibility study that looks specifically for potential skate‑bowl sites and more generally at skate‑facility needs (bowl and street‑style), including access, parking and restroom considerations; and (2) formally engage Exposure Skate in a discussion about a partnership or memorandum of understanding so the city can decide if a level of financial or in‑kind support is warranted to keep the event and youth clinics in Encinitas. Commissioners discussed whether to request council direction now or prepare a memorandum for council review; several commissioners said they wanted the ad hoc to attend the November Exposure Skate event to observe the event firsthand. Others argued for sending a memo to council sooner to ensure any budgeting questions could be considered during the coming budget cycle.

Public commenters who operate surf and skate businesses supported improved, stable permitting and protections for long‑standing local operators; representatives of skateboard advocacy said Exposure Skate brings tourism and programs for girls and expressed concern about the nonprofit’s rising event costs. Staff noted the annual community‑grant process and said Exposure Skate has received grants in the past but that a larger financial ask would need council consideration.

Outcome: the ad hoc’s recommendation to study potential skate sites and to explore partnership options for Exposure Skate was discussed and a motion to prepare a memorandum for City Council and to pursue the feasibility study was made and seconded; the transcript does not record a completed roll-call vote on that motion. Separately, a motion to table further action on Exposure Skate until after the November event was also moved and seconded later in the meeting; the transcript does not include a formal recorded vote on that tabling motion. Staff advised that feasibility and design work for a coastal site would entail significant upfront costs and that state agencies require a complete proposal and permit review before committing to a decision.

Next steps suggested by commissioners and staff included drafting a memorandum summarizing the ad hoc’s findings for City Council, convening the ad hoc to attend the November Exposure Skate event, and determining whether to request council direction to fund a feasibility study in the next budget cycle.