MALIBU — Malibu has completed construction on a temporary skate park ending the near 10 year period since Papa Jack’s skate park was torn down. Due to COVID-19, locals may need an online reservation to use the park opening July 3, according to Malibu Community Service Director Jesse Bobbett.

Papa Jack’s was destroyed in order to provide room for Whole Foods at the Park shopping center. Although the park was privately owned, in 2019 Malibu voted to open a temporary skate park by this spring, and a permanent one following.

The completed temporary skatepark being tested.

On February 24, City Council approved the final design for the temporary park. The West portion of the Crummer property adjacent to the Malibu Bluffs Park was designated for the temporary park, while construction on the permanent park will continue on the East portion of the property. After the permanent skate park is built, a parking lot will be constructed where the temporary park was.

After the plans for the temporary park were approved, construction took four months before completion. Community Service Director Jesse Bobbett spoke with Canyon news on the park’s construction timeline saying what was accomplished in four months, “would normally take a year.”

Bobbett said, “A big project [for us] was fire rebuilds… but this skate park, for the community, could be a rallying point.”

Although a June 18 announcement finalized construction on the temporary skate park, the latest LA County Public Health Order reads, “All indoor & outdoor sport amenities are closed,” including skate parks. However, Bobbett told Canyon News after receiving special permission, the skatepark will be open for 12 people at a time next Friday, July 3.

An online reservation system will be set up allowing up to six people to reserve an hour of skate time. Six spots will also be available based on a first come first serve basis each hour.

The temporary skate park includes a mini-bowl, multiple rails, hubbas, a small quarter pipe, and stairs.

Canyon News spoke with Malibu local and skater Charlie Hoberman who said, “I’m stoked to check it out. I actually have some friends who snuck in and they really liked it.”

When asked about the closure of Papa Jack’s almost a decade ago Hoberman said, “At the time I had some hope the community would come together and ultimately have a faster resolution, I think [a skate park] is a really important aspect of a surf skate community.”

Hoberman hoped the park could’ve come to fruition sooner saying, “Obviously it has been 10 years and it’s been too long… But I enjoy the Whole Foods.” Hoberman’s only concern is that he, “hopes it will be big enough to hold a crowd in the summer.” “I’m very excited for it,” says Hoberman.

Regarding Malibu’s surf skate culture, Bobbet told Canyon News, “Malibu has a historic surf and skating culture with stars from both sports [living] in Malibu. I think the fact that we’re able to push this (the skate park) and get it done so quick, after the Woolsey Fire, it shows some good things can happen.”

Bobbett said, “Skating’s such big deal and they (Malibu skaters) haven’t had a place to skate in 9 years”

The completed temporary skate park.

Bobbett told the Malibu Times, “We designed it to be used for beginners up to advanced skill levels… We have different sections. There’s two types of skate parks—a transition type style course and a street style course. This has elements of both.”

 

The permanent skate park is planned to be 12,500 square feet with construction beginning shortly after the design is finalized. Construction is expected to take 14-16 months. The first permanent skate park design meeting was scheduled for earlier this year but was canceled due to COVID-19 precautions. Bobbett told Canyon News that a virtual design meeting will occur soon, with information on the design meeting posted soon as well.

For updates on both skate parks please visit https://www.malibucity.org/976/Skate-Park