Gale Webb Action Sports Park
There are few things that light hearts more than the smile of a child experiencing joy. A trip down the street to the Gale Webb Action Sports Park, will find smiles galore triggered by accomplishments overcoming setbacks.
The park’s namesake knows all about that path. The Brooklyn native and longtime Menifee resident, Gale Webb spent two years in hospital, with a prognosis she’d never walk again, following a devastating skydiving accident a half-century ago.
From there her life has been quite the ride as a decade later she was crafting a legendary career encouraging kids to participate in action sports including skateboarding, BMX and Motocross. Eventually she became known as “Skateboarding Mom,” as she was dubbed in an article in TransWorld Skateboarding in 1988.
When Webb’s adopted city opened the largest bike park of its kind in Southern California, they named it in her honor, the Gale Webb “Kids-R-#1” Action Sports Park.
And now the California Park and Recreation Society, CPRS, has honored both the park and its namesake.
The new park has received the Award of Excellence in Design for park planning, Menifee being one of only four cities to receive the honor out of the 500 organizations the CPRS represents.
And Gale Webb received CPRS’ Champion of the Community Award for her work encouraging kids to never give up and to say “no” to drugs and alcohol.
“Kids are number one and always will be,” said Webb. “Everything is possible, and kids are learning that lesson through their accomplishments at the park and applying it to other parts of their life.”
The 6-acre park includes a 2,000-foot pump track, three different jump lines, and a bicycle playground with over 30 obstacles.
The Award of Excellence in Design recognizes excellence in the design of completed park facilities intended for public use. The project can be either a new construction or a rehabilitation project that demonstrates high standards of planning, design, community involvement, operation and maintenance, quality of aesthetics, usability, accessibility, and versatility.
“This unique and action-packed park was an idea that was developed by our Community Services team and fully supported by our City Council,” said Mayor Bill Zimmerman. “We are thrilled to see that the Gale Webb Action Sports Park has quickly become a popular destination for bikers of all ages in the community.”
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