20 years of thrills: Etnies Skatepark celebrates milestone anniversary
Jannalynn Flower of Visalia skates at the Etnies Skatepark in Lake Forest as it celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday, December 16, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Skateboarder Ryan Sheckler, left, poses for a photo with Ollie Cazier, center, of Irvine as Brett Cherry, right, takes a photo at the Etnies Skatepark in Lake Forest as it celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Brandon Tafoya of Lake Forest rides his board at the Etnies Skatepark in Lake Forest as it celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Eric Metz, left, and Kevin Fernandez, a recreation supervisor at the Etnies Skatepark in Lake Forest, finish putting a new logo on a wall as it celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A skateboarder rides to the entrance of the Etnies Skatepark in Lake Forest as it celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Brandon Burleigh of Mission Viejo, slides his board along the edge of a wall at the Etnies Skatepark in Lake Forest as it celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Skateboarder Ryan Sheckler speaks to a crowd gathered at the Etnies Skatepark in Lake Forest as it celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Skateboarders listen as Ryan Sheckler speaks at the Etnies Skatepark in Lake Forest as it celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jannalynn Flower of Visalia skates at the Etnies Skatepark in Lake Forest as it celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Skateboarders take a break while riding at the Etnies Skatepark in Lake Forest as it celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Skateboarders Cody Long, left of Long Beach and Brandon Burleigh, right, of Mission Viejo, slide their boards at the Etnies Skatepark in Lake Forest as it celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A skateboarder rides around the Etnies Skatepark in Lake Forest as it celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cairo Lujan, 6, of Santa Ana rides his board at the Etnies Skatepark in Lake Forest as it celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Marking two decades of flips, grinds and adrenaline-fueled rides, the Etnies Skatepark in the heart of Lake Forest commemorated its 20th anniversary on Saturday, Dec. 16.
When it opened on Dec. 13, 2003, Etnies Skatepark cemented itself as one of the largest in the nation, the result of a partnership between Lake Forest and Etnies, a prominent skateboard shoe and apparel company, said Lake Forest spokesperson Jonathan Volzke.
Over the past two decades, the skatepark has evolved into a central hub for recreation, programming and community events. Notably, Transworld Skateboarding magazine bestowed the park with the recognition of being one of the “top 10 ride before you die” places to skateboard globally, said Volzke.
The facility’s widespread acclaim is not limited to the skateboarding community alone; it has made appearances in popular television shows on Disney, Nickelodeon and MTV in addition to the EA video game “Skate 2.”
The park’s first expansion project — from 2009 to 2011 — added a backyard-style swimming pool, cradle, X Games-style flow area, mini bowl and new street obstacles. The expansion increased the skatepark’s size to 62,000 square feet, making it one of the world’s largest, said Volzke.
More improvements are anticipated to be added to the city’s budget, and plans will be made after an outreach campaign sometime next year.
