Temporary Skate Park Opens In Malibu

MALIBU, CA — On a day when it seemed just about everything was closed, from fireworks to beaches, Malibu’s long-awaited temporary skate park opened to the public.

The temporary park is adjacent to Malibu Bluffs Park, near the Crummer Estate. It has been in the works for years, since Malibu is a town full of skaters that hasn’t had a park in the decade since Papa Jack’s park was destroyed in order to make way for Whole Foods.

On February 24, the City Council approved the final design for the temporary park, and construction has been going on ever since. The park was originally slated to be opened later, but the coronavirus pandemic actually sped up construction, according to Malibu Community Service Director Jesse Bobbett.

A permanent, 12,500-square-foot park will open on the eastern side of the property, but planning has been postponed due to COVID.

Skaters can go online to reserve a spot at the park, which is open to a maximum of 12 people. Six spots are available each day online, while six are available to walk-ins on a first-come, first-serve basis. This comes as a compromise to a county health order banning indoor and outdoor sports amenities.

The park is now open each day from noon to 8 p.m., but each skater is limited to 55 minutes. Helmets are always required, and face coverings are required except when skating. The park includes a mini-bowl, multiple rails, hubbas, a small quarter pipe, and stairs. 200 reservations were booked seven days out, according to the Malibu Surfside News.

“It’s, like, so cool!” one young skater told the Surfside News on the park’s inaugural day. “It’s better than I can ever imagine. It’s super fun! All the ramps are really smooth and all the rails are really smooth, too.”