We’re beyond stoked to support the grand opening of the skatepark at Community Park on September 18th! We initially jumped on-board this project when co-op members reached out for support to improve their community-built Davis Ditch skate park. Their project later shifted to join the larger, Community Park Skate Park rebuild which needed additional funding support from our community to make the project a reality. We became official sponsors of the park and thanks to a lot of additional support from the city, skatepark dreams have become a reality!
In honor of the grand opening (September 18 from 5:30–7 p.m. at Community Park Skatepark) we wanted to highlight the history of the Davis Ditch and the local skaters who advocated for skateboarding to remain an important part of the Davis community. Thank you to Luke Turner and the Davis Ditch Locals for graciously sharing the history of skateboarding in Davis with us and for allowing us to be part of this wonderful community-led effort!
The Davis Ditch is a concrete irrigation ditch on the edge of Davis that was intended to serve as irrigation infrastructure, but water never actually flowed through it. Since the 80s, the Ditch has served as a unique rural site for skateboarding.
Generations of local skaters gave meaning to the Ditch and made it special, creating a well-known underground spot that skaters from Davis and beyond would frequent. The Ditch became more than a place to skate; it became a gathering place and an integral part of Davis’ skateboarding culture. Older skaters still went to the Ditch to skate and helped create a welcoming environment for the younger skaters where they could learn, experiment, and progress in skateboarding.
Skaters shaped the space themselves rather than relying on a professionally designed skatepark. Over the years, they improved the terrain by adding curbs, ramps, concrete, and assorted “scraps”, create skateable obstacles that allowed for greater creativity, flow, and gnarlier maneuvers.
Luke Turner and other local skaters helped build and maintain this community, creating a space that embraced the creativity and freedom of DIY skateboarding. The imperfections and handmade nature of the Ditch were part of what made it special, fun, and challenging to skate. For the skaters who spent time there, skateboarding was about creativity and self-expression—it was an art, not a sport.
The Davis Ditch Locals hosted an annual fall event from 2022–2025 called the “Non-Test,” emphasizing fun and community over competition while celebrating the art of skateboarding. Skaters gathered to share their passion, with the event attracting participants from across Northern California. For each event, even more obstacles were added to the Ditch, including ramps, curbs, and inventive props like refrigerators. The Non-Test gave skaters a chance to express their creativity and individuality through their tricks while bringing the local skateboarding community together.
As the Non-Test grew in popularity and visibility, Yolo County became aware of the activity at the Ditch and, in 2026, made the decision to demolish the ramps that skaters had built.
Instead of walking away, the Davis Ditch Locals met with county officials to explore ways to improve the site within its constraints. The The Davis Ditch had a chance to be saved Davis Ditch volunteers reached out to the community for support to fund improvements in line with the counties guidelines.
The Davis Food Co-op became involved when Luke approached us to request a sponsorship that would match donations from other local businesses. Inspired by the grassroots effort led by local community members and their dedication to creativity, community, and creating a space for all, we were able to provide a $10,000 donation to support the project. A total of $14,000 was raised through small individual and local business donations. As a Co-op, supporting locally driven community initiatives is an important part of what we do, so we were happy to support the Davis skaters and their efforts to create something of their own.
However, due to zoning laws, Yolo County confirmed that the project would need to come to a halt and the Davis Ditch would need to close. With the DIY project no longer able to move forward, the Davis Ditch community reached out to The City of Davis to partner with the Community Skatepark and were able to provide input into the design to ensure that it would be functional to varying levels and ages.
Funds raised were donated to the City of Davis by the Davis Ditch community to support enhancements, design, and renovation of the Davis Community Skatepark, which was more than 30 years old and already planned for an overhaul. The Davis Ditch Community became a part of the project and design elements from the Davis Ditch were incorporated in new Skate Park on the corner of Covell and F St.
The outcome wasn’t what anyone had originally envisioned, but the community’s efforts still helped contribute to a new chapter for skateboarding in Davis. The renovated skatepark was designed and constructed by Grindline Skateparks, Inc., known for its world-class skatepark projects and reputation for creating spaces that bring community needs and skateboard use together.
The Davis Ditch was never just concrete and ramps. It represented creativity, independence, community, and generations of skaters coming together to make something their own. While the original DIY project didn’t come to fruition, the work and persistence of the Davis Ditch Locals helped bring investment and attention to the skateboarding community in Davis.
Community projects don’t always unfold exactly as planned, but what’s most important is keeping the goal of supporting local people who are working to make their community better at the forefront. The persistence of the Davis Ditch Locals allowed their community to ultimately create a better place for people to skate and build community. Their story is a great example of how much can be accomplished when communities come together and continue to advocate for the things they care about. And now, Davis has a new skatepark to celebrate!
