This 15,000 sqaure-foot park attracts skaters county-wide.

Thousands of kids (and some adults) in So Cal -- or all around the world for that matter -- can be seen on their colorful skateboards hoping to be the next superstar or thrown into the limelight for their fancy moves. Did you know according to historical reports, skateboarding came to California sometime in the 1950s?

But did you know there is one great place locally to see some of the crème de la crème of talented skateboarders’ right in your own backyard?

Yes, head over the Rancho Santa Margarita Skateboard Park where the popular venue sits prominently about 1 mile up in Canada Vista Park at 24328 Antonio Parkway.

Luckily for those of us who like to observe from the sidelines, the RSM Skate Park is open to the public. It was designed by Purkiss Rose and opened in 2005 to much fanfare. The skateboard park offers a vertical terrain, Street, Tranny and a concrete surface. In fact, the overall size of the skateboard park is a whopping 15,000 +-square feet.

On any given day, observers can see all sorts of talent from dusk till dawn performing, practicing or just showing off their unique talents and styles. It’s free admittance for those who want to skate, as well as for those who want to watch.

There are some rules however: Helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads required and skateboards only!

For more information all 949.635.1800 x.401. Here are some quick directions on how you get there: From I-5 exit Oso Parkway go East 2.5 miles to Antonia Parkway turn left, pass Meandering Trail. The Rancho Santa Margarita Skateboard Park is on the right in Canada Vista Park. If you have trouble finding it, just look for the bright tall lights.