Commission approves conceptual plan to expand Costa Mesa Skate Park with $2 million county grant

The Parks and Community Services Commission on March 13 approved a conceptual plan to expand the Costa Mesa Skate Park at TeWinkle Park, advancing design work funded largely by a $2 million County American Rescue Plan Act allocation.

The expansion would add approximately 17,000 square feet of new concrete features — including a pump track, a snake run, a clover-style bowl and an expanded street course — joining the existing roughly 15,000-square-foot facility. The commission voted 6-0 to adopt the concept and send it forward toward final design and permitting.

Commissioners and the design team said the plan responds to user outreach and aims to separate ability levels while protecting mature trees on the site. "We got $2,000,000 allocated towards the skate park," said Seth Roman, director and project presenter, describing the grant that largely funds construction. Consultant representatives described design choices raised repeatedly in public meetings, such as using concrete rather than asphalt for the pump track and preserving tree root zones to keep existing shade.

The plan returns multiple features requested by park users during two public meetings and online outreach. Consultant remarks and presentation materials shown to the commission highlight four major components: a concrete pump track that allows continuous looping, a clover-shaped bowl with varying depths, a multi-section snake run that transitions into the street course, and a beginner-friendly street course with rails and pads. The consultant said the pump track was specified as concrete at the community's request. "One of the features of the pump track, which was largely requested, is that it's concrete and not asphalt," said a consultant (Bridal) during the presentation.

Commissioners raised questions about user mix, safety and programming. Commissioner Dawn Parker asked how design refinements suggested at recent outreach sessions would be incorporated; the consultant said most comments were detail-level items—rail shape and small dimensional tweaks—that can be resolved in construction documents. Commissioner Houston asked about deep-bowl liability and duplication of existing bowls; staff said the proposed clover bowl was requested by many users to provide an advanced feature that separates skill levels and avoids forcing advanced skaters into smaller "peanut" bowls.

Staff outlined a compressed schedule driven by the grant deadline: finish final design and approvals this summer, advertise for construction by summer, begin construction in fall 2025 and complete by mid-2026. Seth Roman said the design team will pursue necessary utility and building approvals and move to construction documents if the commission's conceptual approval stands.

The commission discussed next steps including additional youth outreach, opportunities for public art, the potential for contests and programming, and how fencing and lighting would be used. Vice Chair Wright and other commissioners said they prefer keeping the site largely unfenced, with limited fencing only where necessary at the street edge; staff confirmed the current plan minimizes fencing to those locations.

The motion to approve the conceptual plan passed 6-0; staff later clarified the vote constituted a majority approval under commission rules.

Proponents at the outreach meetings and commissioners emphasized protecting the park's mature trees and building beginner elements so younger and less experienced skaters have safer places to learn. Staff said they will coordinate with the Arts Commission on public-art opportunities and with Police and park rangers on programming and safety measures.

The expansion is funded primarily with the County ARPA allocation and the city has indicated the design and construction budget is intended to fit within that allocation; staff said they will confirm cost estimates during the construction-document and bidding phases.

The commission authorized staff to continue with final design and permit approvals, with construction slated to begin once bids are awarded and contracts executed.

Ending: The commission's approval moves the project into the next design phase and toward construction, subject to permitting, final cost estimates and the grant timeline. Staff said they will return to the commission with construction documents and additional details on art, lighting, fencing and youth outreach during the design phase.