The city of Laguna Beach is putting some new property it has acquired to use so residents can try out their skateboarding skills.
New, temporary skateboard ramps – costing the city $75,000– are up at the Laguna Beach Community and Recreation Center on South Coast Highway.
The center is at the site of the shuttered St. Catherine’s of Sienna Parish School, which the city purchased for $23 million and took over last year with plans of renovating the facilities there for community use.
The site has four buildings with 39,500 square feet of indoor space. There are also athletic courts, a soccer field and playgrounds. The private school was built in 1957, remodeled in 2008, and has been vacant since 2019.
The steel ramps have been set up in the school’s old playground area, providing a fun and scenic opportunity for skaters of all ages. The ramps were opened to the public on Jan. 8, and since then, they’ve become popular, said Michael Litschi, who heads up the city’s transit and community service departments.
“We’ve been seeing a good response, especially by younger skaters,” he said, adding that some adults have shown up, too.
The ramps are there for free skating sessions, and will also be used for skateboarding classes and camps through the city’s Recreation Department.
Free skating is allowed 2 to 5:30 p.m. during the week and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the weekends, but protective gear is required.
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