The City of Orange broke ground on August 27, 2026, on a new concrete skatepark at Grijalva Park at Santiago Creek, 368 N. Prospect St. in Orange. The Orange City Council awarded the construction contract on April 28, 2026, and the Foothills Sentry reports that construction is slated to be finished in summer 2027.
Grijalva Skatepark Project Status
Location: Grijalva Park at Santiago Creek, 368 N. Prospect St., Orange, CA 92869
Status: Under construction; ground broken August 27, 2026
Size: About 11,000 square feet
Construction contract awarded: April 28, 2026
Contractor: DD Systems, Inc., doing business as Ace CD, Inc., with California Skateparks as skatepark subcontractor
Skatepark designer: Grindline Skateparks
Expected completion: Summer 2027
Official updates: City of Orange Park Planning & Development
Construction Status
Mayor Dan Slater and Councilmembers Arianna Barrios, Denis Bilodeau, Jon Dumitru, Ana Gutierrez and Kathy Tavoularis joined Contenders Boardshop owner Marc Conner at the August 27 groundbreaking, according to the October 2026 Foothills Sentry. Conner led the local push for a skatepark in Orange for several years.
The construction contract gives the contractor 200 calendar days from the City’s notice to proceed to finish the work, unless an extension is granted. Work is limited to weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The contract is set up to keep the rest of Grijalva Park open during construction. It requires the work area to be fenced and the park’s basketball courts, turf areas, parking lot, access roads and walkways to remain open. If a temporary closure becomes necessary, the contractor must give the City 48 hours’ notice and post signs showing how long it will last.
What the New Skatepark Will Include
The Grindline design combines transition and street-style skating. Plans include a clover-shaped, multi-level bowl with varying depths, hips, extensions and pool-style coping, along with a street plaza featuring stair sets, handrails, flat ledges, manual pads and bar rails. Quarter pipes, banks and transitions connect different portions of the skatepark. Grindline’s March 2024 concept drawings, included with the City’s April 2026 contract award, also label 5- and 6-stair sets, hubba ledges, launch ramps and a spline.
The skatepark is designed for a range of ages and skill levels. According to the Foothills Sentry, it is also intended for other non-motorized wheeled activities, including scooters, BMX bikes and roller skates.
The construction project also includes a prefabricated restroom, paved ADA-accessible routes, area and security lighting, shaded spectator seating and landscaping.
Grijalva Skatepark Location
The skatepark is being built within Grijalva Park at Santiago Creek, a City-owned park at the northwest corner of Prospect Street and Spring Street in Orange. A 2022 City staff report noted that an earlier version of the park’s master plan would have placed the skatepark on top of the site’s former landfill, while a 2022 alternative plan moved it outside the landfill perimeter.
The skatepark will be part of the larger Grijalva Park recreation area, which includes sports fields, playgrounds, trails and other community facilities. See our Grijalva Park guide for information about the rest of the park.
Skatepark Design
On October 24, 2023, the City Council approved a $267,690.50 agreement with Grindline Skateparks for design services. Grindline also provides construction management for the project. Community meetings on the design were held December 13, 2023, and February 22, 2024, at the Sports Center at Grijalva Park, and the City’s Park Planning and Community Events Commission reviewed the design and took public input on March 19, 2024.
According to the City’s 2026 staff report, the community asked for a well-rounded facility with both transition and street-style elements that would serve a wide range of users and skill levels.
Construction Cost & Funding
On April 28, 2026, the Orange City Council approved a $2,525,836.50 construction contract with DD Systems, Inc., doing business as Ace CD, Inc. The amount includes the company’s $1,954,985 base bid, $341,230 for a prefabricated restroom and a 10% construction contingency of $229,621.50. DD Systems was the lowest responsive bidder of 11 bids. It listed California Skateparks as its skatepark subcontractor and Public Restroom Company for the restroom.
The Council also approved $1,041,101 from the City’s Park Acquisition (Infill) Fund, bringing the total project budget to $2,818,527. The project is funded through the Park Acquisition (Infill), Capital Projects and County Park Grants funds. City officials told Voice of OC the project does not draw on the City’s General Fund.
The project started with $1.75 million in park development fees paid by the Irvine Company for its Orange Heights development, which the City Council directed to the skatepark on November 15, 2022. A City staff report that month said Contenders Boardshop had raised about $28,000 toward the skatepark, mostly by setting aside $5 from every shoe sale.
Grijalva Skatepark Timeline
- 2005: The Grijalva Park Master Plan for the park’s undeveloped 27 acres includes a skatepark.
- 2018–2019: Contenders Boardshop owner Marc Conner asks the City to let him raise money for a skatepark.
- November 15, 2022: City Council directs $1.75 million in park development fees to the skatepark.
- October 24, 2023: City Council approves the Grindline Skateparks design agreement.
- December 2023 and February 2024: Community meetings on the design are held at the Sports Center at Grijalva Park.
- March 19, 2024: The Park Planning and Community Events Commission reviews the design.
- November 2025: The City requests construction bids. Eleven bids are opened January 8, 2026.
- April 28, 2026: City Council awards the construction contract.
- August 27, 2026: Groundbreaking ceremony.
- Summer 2027: Expected completion, according to the Foothills Sentry.
About Grijalva Park
Grijalva Park at Santiago Creek sits on 42 acres owned by the City of Orange. The City is developing the site in phases. The first 15 acres opened as a park with lighted soccer fields in 2002, and a 2005 master plan for the remaining 27 acres included a skatepark.
Environmental review for the master plan included a Mitigated Negative Declaration under the California Environmental Quality Act, which the City has relied on for the skatepark. As the park plan evolved, the skatepark location and design were refined before the current project advanced to construction.
Grijalva Skatepark FAQ
Is Orange getting a skatepark?
Yes. The City of Orange is building a new concrete skatepark at Grijalva Park at Santiago Creek. Ground was broken on August 27, 2026.
Where is the Grijalva skatepark?
The skatepark is being built within Grijalva Park at Santiago Creek, 368 N. Prospect St., Orange, near Prospect Street and Spring Street.
Is the Grijalva skatepark open yet?
No. The skatepark is under construction. Ground was broken on August 27, 2026.
When will the Orange skatepark open?
The Foothills Sentry reports that construction is slated to be finished in summer 2027. The construction contract allows 200 calendar days from the City’s notice to proceed, plus any approved extensions.
What will the skatepark include?
The design includes a clover-shaped, multi-level bowl and a street plaza with stair sets, rails, ledges, manual pads, quarter pipes, banks and transitions. The project also includes lighting, shaded spectator seating, landscaping, ADA-accessible routes and a restroom.
Can scooters and BMX bikes use the skatepark?
According to the Foothills Sentry, the skatepark is intended for non-motorized wheeled activities including skateboards, scooters, BMX bikes and roller skates.
Who designed the Grijalva skatepark?
Grindline Skateparks designed the project with input gathered through community meetings and a Park Planning and Community Events Commission review. California Skateparks is building the skatepark as a subcontractor to DD Systems, Inc.
How much will the skatepark cost?
The construction contract is $2,525,836.50, including a 10% contingency. The total project budget approved in April 2026 is $2,818,527, which also covers design and other project costs.
How is the skatepark being funded?
The project uses $1.75 million in park development fees paid by the Irvine Company, plus money from the City’s Park Acquisition (Infill), Capital Projects and County Park Grants funds.
Is Grijalva Park open during construction?
The construction contract requires the park’s basketball courts, turf areas, parking lot, access roads and walkways to stay open, with at least 48 hours’ notice and posted signs for any temporary closure.
Will the skatepark have lights?
Yes. The construction scope includes area and security lighting.
Will there be restrooms?
Yes. A prefabricated restroom is included in the construction project.
Where can I skate until it opens?
One nearby public option is the skate park at Veterans Sports Park, 1645 Valencia Ave., Tustin.