9th Annual Santee Best Trick BMX and Skate Jam

Ernesto

Bring the family and watch some of the more spectacular freestyle BMX, scooter and skateboard riders this Sunday Aug. 12 at the 9th Annual Best Trick Jam at Santee’s Woodglen Vista Skate & BMX Park.

“The Jam is a Santee tradition that draws some of the best freestyle performers in the county,” said Chris Myers, a recreation coordinator who supervises the park. “It’s also a chance for the community to see the value of having this wonderful facility available to local kids.”

Scooter and skateboarders will compete from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The BMX riders will perform from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.  First-place winners in novice and expert divisions will be awarded prizes donated by Avalanche Board Shop and East County BMX.

The competition is open to riders from ages 6 to 17. Entry fee is $10 for Santee residents; $14 for non-residents. Onsite registration is from noon to 2:30 p.m.

Tickets for a suggested donation of $5 will be available to win a Gary Young Pro BMX bike, along with an autographed poster of Gary Young. The winning ticket will be chosen at the end of the event. You do not need to be present to win.

Woodglen Vista Park is located at (click here for Google map) 10250 Woodglen Vista Drive just west of North Magnolia Avenue.

Information is available at (619) 258-4100 ext. 210 or at www.santee.ci.santee.ca.us

July is Park and Recreation Month

There’s no more appropriate time to spotlight how parks improve our quality of life than during July, which is National Park & Recreation Month.

In Santee, the city operates five neighborhood parks, two mini parks, and a community park where folks can get outside to have a picnic, take a walk, swim, play ball or toss a Frisbee. But that’s just the tip of the ice cream cone.

The city also sponsors a variety of recreation programs, including a Seniors’ Club, a summer camp for kids and numerous instructional classes, such as jewelry making, karate or dancing.

Santee offers the best deal on live summer concerts (they’re free), held on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. at Town Center Community Park through August 18. 

If your kids are acting bored since the school year ended, there’s still time to sign them up for a week or longer of day camp. Kids who are into BMX, scooters or skateboards can have fun at the skate and BMX facility at Woodglen Vista Park. Summer hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The city also operates a Teen Center at Santee Lakes that during the summer is open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. A monthly Friday Night Hot Spot event, for students entering grades 6 through 9, features games, music and dancing.

The Seniors’ Club meets each Wednesday with additional senior outings scheduled once to twice a month at various spots throughout the county. The next trip scheduled for July 12 is a sojourn to the city of Coronado via the passenger ferry across San Diego Bay.

Visit the the Santee Recreation Services Division to see the recreation programs being offered.  Check out the Santee city parks page for information on parks.

Celebrate July as National Park and Recreation month by visiting one of your local parks and see why parks make life better.