Duarte, CA

First off, this is a well constructed skatepark. From what the locals told me, it is the best skatepark in the area between LA and Upland. Designed by LRM, constructed by Wally Hollyday at California Skateparks, Duarte just about has it all. Lots of features are packed into a 12,000 sq ft area. Sure the bowl could have been bigger... but it is a blast to skate. Street tech heads will not be disappointed either. Plenty of ledges, stairs, banks, rails to keep them busy for hours.
WORD OF WARNING! WEAR ALL OF YOUR PADS!!! While I was skating, 2 LA County Sheriffs and 2 Local Yokle cops showed up and gathered up all the non-paded skaters and gave each one a ticket that cost $122.00!!! About 6 of them got popped. The fast ones ran away before getting nabbed. The local 50 came up to the bowl area to talk to us old guys and said most got away because the kids spotted them rolling up in a unmarked town truck. I told the 50 maybe they should lose the uniform and truck and roll up on a skateboard. Maybe then they can raise the revenue of the town of Duarte by nabbing more padless skaters. He had nothing to say...
When I was leaving a female cop arrived and told us that if more reports of people not wearing pads or injuries (by padless skaters) are reported, the park may be closed down! How lame! The only real injury was from a biker who fell and busted his noggin. I heard he did not suffer any major damage. Bikes are NOT allowed, you should have seen the paperboys scram when the 50 rolled up!
On the plus side, the park is free and is open from 9am to dusk. Lights are planned for the future.
Directions:
Take the 210 FWY and exit at Buena Vista.The park is on the north side of the freeway, next to a huge car dealership.