The Robb Field Skate Park in Ocean Beach turned 15 on Thursday, Feb. 19. A dedicated group of volunteers – local business owners, iconic skaters, residents and former Councilman Byron Wear and his staff – worked together to ensure the fundraising and development for the community’s first skate park. On Feb. 19, 2000 the opening of the park was marked with a celebration with more than $25,000 in prize giveaways. The donations and corporate sponsorships were put together with the help of Kanten Russell and Andy MacDonald, local pro-skateboarders. “It was fun to work with local teenagers, business owners and professional skaters all to meet one goal – create a family friendly skate park in OB,” said Julie Klein, owner of Julie Designs. Klein worked with the Ocean Beach MainStreet Association to develop Skateboardships for any skater who was unable to come up with the annual pass fee. At the time each skater was required to buy a $5 daily pass or purchase an annual pass for $30. The OBMA worked with the community to sponsor any skaters who found themselves in this position. Today the park is open and free to the public. “The first thing or rather person that comes to my mind is Mike Ryan,” said Josh Utley, who was a skateboarding teenager at the time and is now a successful Ocean Beach business owner. “That man should be recognized for his efforts. He was at the helm. Mike’s shop, Just SK8, was broken into a couple times, which forced him out of business. Even with his shop gone he continued the multi-year struggle to get the local kids a safe place to skate by holding rallies at the elementary school and at Robb Field. “Mike taught us to pick up our skateboards around old people to ease their anxiety and to do good deeds while skateboarding like pick up trash and help a little old lady across the street,” Utley said. “These are all lessons that shaped me as a person and I’m sure others. I still do these things even today.”
For more information on the skate park, contact San Diego Parks and Recreation Department at (619) 531-1563.