SF Women’s Skate Group Hosts First Skate Jam at Sunset Dunes Park

The SF Women’s Skate Group and local surf and skate shops—including Sunset neighborhood retailer Aqua Surf Shop—hosted the inaugural skate jam and tricks competition at the Sunset Dunes skate park on the Great Highway, bringing together first-time and veteran women and gender-diverse skateboarders just days before San Francisco voters decide the park’s fate under Proposition G, according to KALW 91.7.

Established after voters approved Proposition K in 2024 to convert the coastal road between Lake Merced and Sutro Baths into a full-time, car-free park, Sunset Dunes was designed by professional skate park designer Chris Long in collaboration with the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department following the 2022 removal of Playland Skate Park on 43rd Avenue.

Building an Inclusive Coastal Skate Space

SF Women’s Skate Group co-founder Hanan Sinada and Aqua Surf Shop manager Dagan Ministero organized a women’s-plus skate class and scheduled the tricks contest an hour later so beginners and young girls could practice on the quarter pipe, ramps, rail, and adjacent bike pump track without intimidation.

First-time skater Emily Byers, Santa Cruz skater Ali Gershik, and longtime skater Kelsey Wilkins told KALW that the spread-out beachside layout provides a welcoming alternative to busier city spots such as Potrero del Sol, Pier 7, and SoMa. Notably, both Sinada and Ministero originally opposed Proposition K in 2024 over traffic concerns on Sunset Boulevard and 19th Avenue, but now strongly support keeping Sunset Dunes permanent.

Proposition G Threatens Permanent Removal of Skate Park

If Proposition G passes on Nov. 3, the Great Highway will reopen to car commuters on weekdays while remaining car-free on weekends and holidays—requiring the permanent removal of the skate park, art sculptures, and lounge spaces on the roadway. SF Rec and Parks Deputy Director of Communications Tamara Aparton told KALW that the city estimates it would cost about $10 million to convert the park back into a highway and up to $2 million annually to maintain it, with no guarantee that the Sunset district would receive a replacement skate park.