A skateboard park is expected to be added to Pinto Lake County Park in 2026. (Ruby Lee Schembari — Santa Cruz Local)
WATSONVILLE >> Construction has been delayed on a new skateboard park at Pinto Lake County Park outside Watsonville, and it’s now expected to open in summer 2026.
“We’re hoping to have all the plans completed by the end of this year, shovels in the ground by April, and then hopefully opening for Go Skateboarding Day on June 21, 2026,” said Nathan Benjamin, a board member of the Richard H. Novak Foundation.
The foundation has pledged $800,000 toward the project, which might cover all costs. Novak is a co-founder of Santa Cruz-based NHS Inc., maker of Santa Cruz Skateboards, Independent Trucks and other brands.
Announced in late 2024, construction was supposed to start on the 8,000-square-foot skate park this spring and finish this summer.
The site essentially needs drainage work and county planners’ approval, said Mariah Roberts, executive director of County Park Friends that is working on the project. Work must start before Oct. 15 or after April 15 to avoid extra costs for a winter work permit, she said.
The project has been “more complicated” and has taken “longer than we hoped,” Roberts said Thursday.
“Our organization is just trying to expand access and resources” to county residents who have been “absolutely underserved when it comes to parks and parks programming,” Roberts said. She said she wanted the skate park to be integrated with Mesa Village County Park across Green Valley Road rather than isolated deep in the park.
Roberts said the Novak Foundation has been “incredibly generous when it comes to this project.”
Park designs could include a strawberry feature in a nod to the area’s agriculture. (Grindline Skateparks Inc.)
Grindline Skateparks Inc. has designed an 8,000 square foot skate park for Pinto Lake County Park. (Grindline Skateparks Inc.)
Designed by Seattle-based Grindline Skateparks Inc., the concrete park is expected to have quarter pipes, ledges, rails and other features.
Watsonville-based Granite Construction Inc. is expected to donate materials like concrete, Benjamin said. The Novak foundation and County Park Friends hope to solicit donations, whether it’s financial or building materials, Benjamin said.
“Ultimately, we may cover the entire cost. If there are other organizations or individuals in the community that also put money into it, then it’ll pan out,” Benjamin said.
Potential donors can call Roberts at 831-419-1662.
Read more
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Ruby Lee Schembari is a student at Cabrillo College and editor in chief of The Cabrillo Voice.
