On Dec. 11, the Santa Cruz County Department of Parks, Open Space and Cultural Services, along with County Park Friends, the Richard Novak Foundation and Supervisor Zach Friend kicked off a campaign for a new skate park feature at Pinto Lake County Park.
County Park Friends are working with the Richard Novak Foundation to make this generous donation of a new skate feature possible at Pinto Lake County Park, 757 Green Valley Road, Watsonville. The project was initiated by NHS founder Richard Novak with design oversight by County Parks.
This park improvement is expected to be completed in late spring 2025 and open to the public in summer of 2025.
The skate park feature is being designed by Matt Fluegge of Grindline Skateparks Inc. in collaboration with Tricia Proctor of the Richard Novak Foundation and local skateboarder and NHS brand manager Gavin Denike.
Friend, Novak, County Parks and County Parks Friends previously collaborated on a skate feature at Seacliff Village County Park.
“Santa Cruz County has a treasured history of skateboarding and skateboard innovation, and this will bring the best of both to South County in a way that has never existed before. We have cultivated and grown this partnership with the Richard Novak Foundation, County Park Friends and County Parks and now we are delivering another world-class skate park for our local community,” Friend said. “Along with the Richard Novak Foundation, we can bring future generations a new gift to a cherished park that will create memories and opportunities.”
“This demonstrates what we can do when we work with our nonprofit partners advancing our new Parks Strategic Plan goal of equity while also providing a great park amenity for South County residents in an area that currently doesn’t have one,” Parks Deputy Director Rebecca Hurley said.
County Park Friends Executive Director Mariah Roberts said, “We’re excited to be partnered with the Richard Novak foundation to build a new skate feature in a place it will be appreciated.”
•••
For info, contact Mariana Colibri-Urgo at [email protected].
TOP PHOTO: Seacliff Skate Park