Redwood Heights Park Skate Ramp

The skate ramp creates a safe, positive space for youth and families to stay active and engaged. Skating is already happening throughout the neighborhood—in driveways, sidewalks, and parking lots. This project gives kids a safer, purpose-built space to do what they’re already doing. It also aligns with Oakland’s values of equitable access to recreation, especially for teens and older kids who are often underserved.

The ramp will be located along the fire lane, nestled in a natural bowl below homes on Young and Atlas. This location was carefully chosen to minimize both noise and visual impact. It is accessible and visible from main park entrances and roads, but tucked away from heavily trafficked areas. Surrounding trees and vegetation also provide natural sound buffering.

The ramp will be constructed with a wood frame, Skate Lite surfacing, and metal railings. Wood and Skate Lite were chosen because they are quieter than concrete or steel, more environmentally friendly, and visually fit with the park’s natural surroundings. These materials reduce sound and make the ramp more suitable for a residential setting.

Noise concerns are valid, and this project includes several built-in mitigation strategies. The combination of Skate Lite surfacing, wood construction, and the ramp’s sunken location all help dampen sound. If noise becomes an issue, RHA is open to adding more landscaping or sound-dampening features over time.

The ramp will follow City of Oakland park hours (6 AM to 10 PM), but because it has no lighting, it will realistically only be used during daylight hours. This intentional design discourages nighttime use and helps ensure the ramp is used when the park is naturally more active and visible.

Safety is a core consideration of this project. The skate ramp will be designed and constructed to meet City of Oakland standards for public recreational facilities.

Like many features in public parks, the ramp is covered under the California Recreational Use Act. This law protects the City from liability by designating the ramp as a use-at-your-own-risk recreational feature, similar to playgrounds, trails, and sports courts. This protection allows cities to offer recreational amenities without increasing legal exposure.

The ramp is intended for individual, non-competitive use and will not host organized events or amplified activities. In addition, its availability to the Recreation Center’s after-school program, Rockets, adds structure and supervised use during key hours.

Together, these measures help ensure the ramp is a safe, responsibly managed addition to the park.

We understand concerns about the health and safety of trees in Redwood Heights Park. The proposed skate ramp location was reviewed and approved by the City of Oakland. While RHA cannot control natural factors such as aging trees, we remain committed to staying alert and responsive.

If concerns arise, we will continue to report them through the proper city channels, including Oakland’s 311 system, and will work with city partners to monitor the area over time. The safety of park users remains a shared priority.

Yes, other locations within Redwood Heights Park were considered, including the concrete plaza near the intersection of Aliso Avenue and Redwood Road. While that area may appear suitable, it raises significant safety concerns. The plaza is located near a busy intersection where there have been past traffic accidents, including one incident where a car broke through the barrier and entered the plaza. Because of its proximity to traffic and limited protection from vehicles, it was not considered a safe or appropriate site for a youth-oriented facility.

Additionally, open areas like that plaza are more exposed and can amplify sound. Skateboarding noise would be more likely to carry across the park and into surrounding streets and homes. In contrast, the selected location—along the fire lane and nestled in a natural bowl—is buffered by trees and terrain, which help reduce sound transmission.

This location also provides clear lines of sight from the park entrance and nearby roads, supporting safety and oversight. It was reviewed and approved by the City of Oakland as the most suitable option, balancing accessibility, noise mitigation, and neighborhood compatibility.

No. The ramp is a long-term investment, but it is not permanent. It’s built to last, but if serious, ongoing issues arise, the community can reassess. This flexibility ensures we can respond to real needs as they emerge.

New amenities often draw extra attention when they first open, and that’s natural. But the ramp was designed with local use in mind. It is a modest structure with no lighting, located in a walkable residential neighborhood. It’s best suited for everyday use by nearby families and teens, not large gatherings or high-traffic events. Over time, we expect it to become just another part of the park’s regular rhythm.

That can be a good thing. More experienced skaters often act as informal mentors, helping younger skaters learn safely and encouraging a culture of care and pride in the space. A healthy mix of skill levels supports community, responsibility, and mutual respect.

The Redwood Heights Association supports both maintenance and improvement, but for this project, we chose to focus on park enhancement rather than basic repairs. This decision was intentional.

We see the skate ramp as a way to expand who the park serves, especially older kids and teens, who currently have few recreation options in the area. The ramp adds something new and meaningful for a group that has often been left out of park planning. It’s a step toward a more inclusive and equitable space that reflects the full range of community needs.

While we don’t manage city maintenance budgets, we continue to advocate for improved upkeep and have invested in other enhancements over time, including the new pavilion and ongoing landscaping work. As funding allows, we plan to support both improvements and stewardship to make the park as welcoming and functional as possible.

Pickleball is included in the dream design for Redwood Heights Park and remains part of the long-term vision. However, when deciding which project to pursue first, the Redwood Heights Association considered both cost and community need.

The skate ramp is significantly more affordable and directly serves older kids and teens—an age group that currently has few recreational options in the park. We’ve also learned that pickleball, while a popular and growing sport, can generate sharp, repetitive noise that carries farther than skating, especially in open areas. In contrast, the skate ramp is tucked into a naturally sound-buffered location and constructed with materials designed to reduce noise.

This project is one step toward the broader park vision. As resources allow, we hope to continue making improvements that reflect a wide range of community interests.

This project is designed to increase safety, not compromise it. A well-used public space discourages unwanted activity. Skating is active and visible, unlike passive loitering, which tends to happen in dark, unused corners. A skate ramp draws young people into purposeful recreation and helps build positive community energy during daylight hours.

There is no evidence that skate ramps increase crime. In fact, they often reduce it by giving teens something constructive to do. The ramp will also be available for use by the Recreation Center’s after-school program, Rockets, adding further structure and supervision.

While no public space is immune from misuse, evidence consistently shows that active recreation deters unwanted behavior. The RHA is committed to monitoring the site and working with neighbors and the city to address any concerns that may arise after installation.

This skate ramp is part of a larger vision to revitalize Redwood Heights Park. It reflects a belief that all members of our community deserve spaces to play, gather, and grow—including teens. It’s not about fear. It’s about building a stronger, more connected neighborhood where everyone feels welcome.

We understand that some residents felt caught off guard by the timing of the city’s public notice. The City of Oakland followed its standard process and issued notices to homes within 300 feet of the proposed site. While the notice period met city requirements, it unfortunately fell during the holiday season, which made it harder for some neighbors to review the information and respond within the timeframe.

As a small, volunteer-led organization, the Redwood Heights Association has shared updates informally over time, but we recognize that clearer communication earlier in the process would have helped. We are committed to being more proactive moving forward and welcome ongoing conversation to ensure neighbors stay informed and involved.