Skateparks in and near Palo Alto

Palo Alto was early to skateboarding and then stopped. In 1991 the city opened a set of concrete bowls at Greer Park that it describes as the first public skate facility on the Peninsula. More than three decades later, that is still the only public skatepark in town. The good news for local skaters is that three neighboring cities fill the gaps, each within about 15 minutes of downtown Palo Alto.

This guide covers Greer Park first, then the parks in Menlo Park, Mountain View and Redwood City. We give hours and rules as each city publishes them. Skateparks close in wet weather and for repairs, so check the city page before a special trip.

Skateparks near Palo Alto at a glance

Greer Park, Palo Alto

Greer Park at 1098 Amarillo Avenue is a 22-acre park beside Highway 101 in south Palo Alto, with sports fields, a playground, a small dog run and restrooms. The skatepark is the part that draws people from across town. The city added it in 1991 and says it was one of the most advanced skate facilities in the state when it opened.

It is a tri-bowl design: three connected concrete bowls rather than a street course of rails, ledges and stairs. That suits skaters who like to carve and pump through transitions. It is less friendly to beginners, who have little flat ground to practice on. The park is free and follows Greer Park's sunrise to sunset hours. There is no staff on site.

In 2020 a group of local students petitioned the city for a second, beginner-friendly park beside the bowls. The Palo Alto High School student newspaper reported more than 1,800 signatures. No second park has been built. Families with new skaters often start at Rengstorff or Burgess and graduate to Greer.

• Getting there. Greer is on the bay side of town near Highway 101, an easy bike ride from Midtown. Our bike boulevards guide shows the quiet routes.
• Nearby closure. The city scheduled the Greer playground to close for maintenance from October 26 to November 2, 2026. The skatepark, fields and dog run were not part of that closure.
• Bring a helmet and pads. A fall into a concrete bowl hurts at any age.

Burgess Skate Park, Menlo Park

Menlo Park's Burgess Skate Park at 580 Alma Street sits in Burgess Park next to the Arrillaga Family Gymnasium, a few minutes' walk from the Menlo Park Caltrain station. The city describes it as a year-round facility of about 15,000 square feet, open to skateboards and skates only. Local guides describe banks, boxes, rails and a run of bowls that deepen toward a vert section, so it works for a range of skill levels.

The city's posted rules are strict and enforced:

• Helmets, elbow pads and knee pads are required at all times, under the city's municipal code.
• Children under 14 need an adult present.
• No bikes, scooters or razors.
• No food, drink or glass inside the skate area. No added ramps or jumps.
• The park rules list hours from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Another section of the city page says it closes at sunset, so plan to be off the concrete by dusk.

Burgess is the easiest skatepark to reach without a car: take Caltrain one stop north from Palo Alto and walk over. Our Menlo Park station guide has the layout and our Menlo Park guide covers food on Santa Cruz Avenue afterward.

Rengstorff Park skate park, Mountain View

Mountain View's skate park sits in the northwest corner of Rengstorff Park. It is a street-style park rather than a bowl. The city lists these features:

• A mini half pipe, 4 feet high and 12 feet wide
• A bank and quarter pipe combo
• A flat grind rail and a grind box
• A spine and a pyramid with a rail
• A concrete skate bench

It opens daily from 6 a.m. until 30 minutes after sunset, weather permitting. It closes when the features are wet. On Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. the park is reserved for skaters 12 and under, which makes it the best first stop for young beginners. Helmets, knee pads and elbow pads are required. Bikes, BMX bikes and scooters are not allowed. The park is unsupervised. Our Mountain View guide covers the rest of the city.

Red Morton Park, Redwood City

Redwood City's skatepark is the Phil Shao Memorial Skate Park in Red Morton Park, about 15 minutes north of Palo Alto. Local guides describe a small shallow bowl, a much deeper bowl and a ramp across about 13,000 square feet, with helmets required. We could not load Redwood City's own park page to confirm current hours and rules when we updated this guide, so check posted signs or call the city's parks department before you go. Our Redwood City guide covers downtown and the Caltrain station.

Rules, gear and safety

California law requires anyone under 18 to wear a properly fitted, fastened helmet when riding a skateboard, scooter or skates on a street, bikeway or public trail. Skateparks set their own rules on top of that. Both Menlo Park and Mountain View require helmets, elbow pads and knee pads for every skater regardless of age.

1. Get a skate-specific helmet. Bike helmets protect the top of the head. Skate helmets cover more of the back.
2. Add wrist guards for beginners. Wrists take most falls in the first weeks.
3. Learn the line. Wait your turn at the edge of a bowl and do not cut across someone's run.
4. Skip wet days. Concrete and steel get slick and parks close in the rain.
5. Bring water. None of these parks has a snack bar and summer afternoons get hot on the concrete.

For boards, pads and helmets, see our guides to sporting goods and bike and outdoor gear shops.

When to go

The Peninsula's dry season, roughly May through October, is prime skating weather. Mornings are cool and the concrete stays grippy. Summer afternoons can push past 85°F at Greer and Burgess, where there is little shade over the skating surface, so go early or late in the day. From November through March, rain closes the parks for a day or two after each storm while the surfaces dry. Weekday mornings are the quietest time at every park. After-school hours from about 3:30 p.m. and weekend afternoons draw the biggest crowds, especially at Burgess. With daylight saving time ending on November 1, 2026, these parks close by about 5:30 p.m. in December.

Tips for families and visitors

For a first session, go to Rengstorff on a weekend morning during the kids-only hours. Once a child can drop in on the mini ramp, Burgess is the natural next step. Save Greer's bowls for confident skaters. Teens without a car can reach Burgess by Caltrain and Greer by bike. Our teens guide has more ideas for after-school hours.

Visiting with a skater for a weekend? You can compare hotels near Palo Alto and plan a loop of all three nearby parks in one day.

Frequently asked questions