The Bay Area is just as notable for its skateboarding and BMX scene as Southern California. San Jose is the crown jewel of the Bay Area when it comes to skateboarding. There are many great skateparks and skate spots in San Jose, but none of them have left as big of a mark as Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park.
Lake Cunningham Action Sports Skatepark is the biggest skatepark in California, and it spans 68,000 square feet. The park has several bowls, the biggest vert wall and full pipe in California, an elaborate street section, and a massive BMX dirt course. Helmets are required at the skatepark, and elbow and knee pads are required in certain sections.
Luckily, the skatepark is well-lit so you can safely skate as the sun sets. Follow along as we take a deep dive into Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park and highlight what makes it so unique.
Quick Skatepark Details
| Address | 2305 S. White Road San Jose, CA 95148 |
| Location | San Jose, California |
| Park Hours |
|
| Park Lights | Yes |
| Admission Fees | $10 Daily Pass/$6 Parking Fee |
| Park Supervised | Yes |
| Phone | (408) 794-7575 |
| Park Opened | April 26th, 2008 |
| Skatepark Builder | The American Ramp Company |
| Helmets & Safety Gear | Helmets Required, Pads Required in Some Areas |
| Riding Devices Allowed | Skateboards, Rollerblades, BMX, Scooter |
| Riding Devices Not Allowed | Motorized Equipment/Vehicles |
| Skatepark Material | Concrete, Metal Rails, Metal Coping, Dirt Course |
| Size | 68,000 Square Feet |
| Skatepark Website Information | https://www.sanjoseca.gov/FacilityDirectory/2251/2028 |
Where Is Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park?
Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park is in San Jose, California. Not only is it the biggest skatepark in the Bay Area at 68,000 square feet, but it’s bigger than any California skatepark.
Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park Address: 2305 S. White Road San Jose, CA 95148
What Are The Hours at Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park?
Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park is open from 3:00 PM- 7:00 PM from Wednesday-Friday. The weekend offers longer hours as the park stays open from 9:00 AM- 7:00 PM. Unfortunately, the park is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so you’ll need to plan skating and BMX sessions for the rest of the week.
Do You Have to Pay to Get Into Lake Cunningham?
There is a $10 fee for skating at Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park, and you must also pay to park. The parking fee is $6 per day. However, the daily parking pass rate goes up to $10 on busy holidays. You can also buy an $80 parking pass that lets you park there for a year.
How Do You Get Into the Skatepark?
Once you park at Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park, you simply need to walk up to admissions before you enter the skatepark. They will give you a wristband, and you must keep it on for the duration of your time at Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park. You are free to enter the skatepark and BMX tracks and skate until closing time once you get your wristband.
Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park Rundown
Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park has countless obstacles for every type of skater. The park’s vert wall, cradle, and full pipe are the largest that California has to offer. There are small pool-style bowls, Travelodge bowls, skull bowls, and thumb bowls for transition skaters.
Street skaters will love the boxes, rails, ledges, and manual pads. There is plenty of flat ground for rolling and flip tricks as well. Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park also boasts a massive BMX course that is divided into 7 zones.
You will find jumps, slopes, and several pump tracks that vary in skill level. The BMX course also has several drops that range from 1 ½ feet to 5 feet.
Here is what the skatepark includes:
- Full Pipe (largest in the world)
- Cradle (largest in the world)
- Vert Wall (largest in the world)
- Mini Bowls
- Puddles
- Street Course
- Skull Bowl, Multi Bowl, Travelodge Bowl, Olympic Bowl, Thumb Bowl
- Thimble
- Box Jump
- Boxes and rails
Watch this video by Elder Skates to see a bit of the park!
What Material Is the Park Made of?
Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park is primarily made of smooth concrete. You will also find metal elements, such as bowl and quarter-pipe coping as well as rails. The park also features a course made of dirt that is meant for BMX riders.
How Busy Does It Get?
Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park gets quite busy, especially on the weekends. San Jose currently has a population of 983,489 residents, and there is a big skateboarding and BMX culture. The city is also part of the greater Bay Area which is synonymous with extreme sports, and people drive up to San Jose from Southern California.
You can avoid crowds if you go to Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park on weekdays as close to when it opens as possible.
Does The Skatepark Have Contests?
Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park has hosted several contests over the years. The $3 Contest and Skate at the Lake are the most notable contests at Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park.
Is Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park Beginner-Friendly?
Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park has several sections and obstacles that are great for beginners. The park has obstacles for every skill level. However, beginners should steer clear of some of the more intense obstacles, such as the bowls, vert wall, and half pipe.
Are Helmets Required?
You must wear a helmet at Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park. They strictly enforce this rule, and you can be ejected from the park if you fail to wear a helmet. Some sections of Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park also require guests to wear pads.
Does Lake Cunningham Sports Park Have Lights?
There are several lights in and around Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park. The park closes at 7:00 PM so it never gets too dark unless the sky is overcast. However, the lights come in handy to illuminate the bowls, street section, and BMX course in the evening when the sun starts to set.
Do They Have Rental Equipment?
Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park is one of the rare skateparks that lets you rent equipment. You can rent a scooter, bicycle, or skatepark to shred the park if you don’t have one with you. It costs $5 per session to rent a scooter or skateboard, and $10 to rent a bicycle.
They also rent out helmets and pads for $5 per day. Make sure to have your ID with you as it’s required to rent gear at Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park.
Can You Ride BMX at Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park?
You can ride BMX bikes at Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park, and it’s quite common. BMX riders can ride in the skatepark as well on the dirt BMX trail. Whether you have a jumper or a street-style BMX bike, there is plenty to do at the park.
Can You Ride a Scooter at Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park?
Scooters are welcome at Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park. They even rent out scooters. You can even bring a dirt scooter onto the BMX dirt track, but I don’t recommend doing that with a standard scooter.
Can You Ride Rollerblades at Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park?
You can ride any type of inline skates and rollerblades at Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park. While they don’t rent them out, the park is designed to accommodate inline skates. Rollerbladers can cruise and perform tricks on the street course and even shred the bowl without a problem.
Can You Ride a Longboard at Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park?
While you can ride a longboard at Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park, there won’t be much for you to do. There is flat ground that is good for a longboard, but most of the park consists of street, vert, and transition elements. You cannot skate most bowls or street and transition obstacles with a longboard because they aren’t ideal for those types of tricks.
Is There Wi-Fi At the Park?
Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park doesn’t currently offer Wi-Fi for guests. However, cellular service in the area is quite strong, so you can easily use cellular data to access the Internet.
The History of Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park?
Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park’s history dates to 2000. San Jose’s city council approved plans for a large skatepark and bike course in 2000, but construction didn’t begin until 2007. The sheer size of the park meant that tons of materials were needed, and that’s why it cost $4.7 million to build it.
In 2008, the park opened to widespread acclaim for its size, layout, design, and variety of obstacles. Professional skateboarder Don Nguyen referred to Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park as “Disneyland for skaters”, and the park has maintained that reputation.
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Nick Durante is a professional writer that primarily focused on action sports. Skateboarding and Longboarding are his particular areas of expertise. When he isn’t writing about action sports, he is catching up on the world of skateboarding and spending time outside.