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Grassroots Effort Gains Momentum to Transform Betti Stradling into World-Class Skatepark

Betti Stradling Skate Park in Coral Springs. {GoFundMe}

The sad state of the Betti Stradling Skatepark has inspired one determined resident to lead a grassroots fight to revive it as a free, world-class community hub.

What remains of the Betti Stradling Skatepark in the present day is unrecognizable from what it once was — a bustling space for local youth to interact, learn, and, most importantly, stay out of trouble. Where once ramps were full, now stands only a handful of weathered, outdated structures — rusted metal and splintering wood, shadows of a park that was once a lifeline to kids growing up in Coral Springs.

For many longtime residents, the decline of Betti Stradling Skatepark feels personal. “I grew up here,” said Juan Carlos Arango, a Coral Springs resident of 27 years who has become the face of a grassroots movement to rebuild the park. “Our parents would drop us off, and we’d spend all day skating, failing at tricks, trying again, learning resilience. As I got older, I realized this cycle applies to almost anything in life.”

Arango is leading a petition drive to replace the aging, half-demolished skatepark with a free, world-class concrete facility. In less than a week, his campaign has gathered over 600 signatures. He hopes to replicate the success of Hollywood’s Justice Skatepark, which emerged from local advocacy and garnered more than 3,000 petition signatures.

Opened in the early 2000s, Betti Stradling Skatepark was never built to last. Constructed primarily of wood and metal, its ramps deteriorated quickly in Florida’s humidity and rain. Over time, the city removed many of the most dangerous structures, leaving behind an underwhelming space that skaters struggled to use.

“It got unsafe,” Arango explained. “You’d have ramps literally rotting from the inside. People stopped coming, not because they didn’t love skating, but because it wasn’t safe anymore.”

The park’s decline mirrors a broader trend in South Florida. Beloved skateparks such as Drop In Action in Boca Raton and Ramp48 in Fort Lauderdale have been torn down in recent years, often leaving behind barren concrete slabs where generations once honed their craft.

Arango’s vision is ambitious. Working with professional skateboarder Paul Hurtado, who once ran youth camps at Betti Stradling, and renowned skatepark builder Jason Ranft – whose resume includes Miami’s internationally acclaimed Lot11 Skatepark and the Justice Skatepark in Hollywood – he hopes to drive a plan to transform Betti Stradling into a durable, low-maintenance concrete park that would be free and open to all.

“I’ve seen Jason’s work,” Arango said. “He’s an artist. He designs spaces that challenge beginners and professionals alike.”

Transforming Betti Stradling will not come cheaply. But Arango points to a patchwork of grants and public funds that could offset the costs.

Arango cites programs like Florida’s Recreation Development Assistance Program, which offers up to $300,000 for recreational projects, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which has previously funded skateparks in Bonita Springs. National organizations, such as The Skatepark Project, founded by Tony Hawk, provide grants of up to $25,000.

The movement is reminiscent of the campaign that saved Justice Skatepark in Hollywood, where signatures turned into shovels in the ground.

“That’s our model,” Arango said. “We won’t stop until we succeed. Failure isn’t an option.”

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Ryan Yousefi

Ryan Yousefi has lived in Coral Springs for over 30 years. He has worked as a writer for multiple outlets over the years, including the Miami New Times where he has covered sports and culture since 2013. He holds a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Business Healthcare Management from Western Governors University.