On Friday, Sept. 29, students at Parkway Sports & Health Science Academy will get a treat with the opening of a new skateboard ramp.
Not only will students have a chance to skate the ramp, but they’ll be able to do so alongside La Mesa-Spring Valley Schools Superintendent David Feliciano, Parkway Principal Jacob Ruth, and teacher and Skate Club sponsor Patrick Martin. There are also some invited pros expected to drop in.
The ramp, a collaboration between Parkway and the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District’s Extended School Services (ESS) program, brings innovative learning and recreational opportunities to the school and the broader community.
The school has an active skateboarding club as well as the innovative Engineering of Skateboarding class, taken by more than 100 students each year and taught by Martin.
“With the combination of those two groups we started thinking about building a ramp last year,” said Ruth. “We worked with our (ESS) after-school program and split the cost of the ramp, so it will be used by that program as well as our classes and student club.”
Ruth also sees broader use for the ramp as a way to reach out to and engage the local community.
“Our goal is to host clinics for the community, with skate lessons and events; we’ll use it quite a bit,” Ruth remarked.
The ramp was designed and built by skate ramp builder Jim Bell, a San Diego fixture in the skating world who has built similar structures across the country.
Bell engaged with students in the Engineering of Skateboarding class throughout the project.
“He talked to the engineering kids about how he built it, he showed them photos and talked about the construction, the angles, how he made the cuts, and the materials used,” Ruth added.
The process reportedly helped students see the way the work they do in class translates to the real world.
“The engineering kids came out here and saw the ramp mid-production when they were putting in the structure of it and they were stoked,” Ruth remarked. “They were taking notes and when they went back to class they talked about the different angles and how it’s built, and the kind of the structure of it right and how (Jim) made it so sturdy. It was an amazing experience.”
Not only is Feliciano a supporter of the project, but as a skater himself, he offered to attend the opening event and skate the ramp alongside students.
“This ramp creates so many opportunities for our students,” said Feliciano. “It offers chances for recreation, building relationships, and taking ownership of a unique space at the school.
“It’s also a fantastic way to see how the learning at Parkway Academy translates to real-world applications right here on campus. I’m happy to join in on the celebration and show students that skateboarding is a multigenerational sport that can be enjoyed by all.”
