New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Sue Donoghue today took a major step towards transforming New York City into the skate capital of the East Coast.
In partnership with local elected officials and The Skatepark Project — a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help underserved communities create safe and inclusive public skateparks for youth — the city has launched its design and public engagement process for four new and enhanced skateparks in Brooklyn and the Bronx. Mayor Adams announced a $24.8 million investment to build these skate parks as part of his State of the City address in January.
“New York City is on a roll — jobs are up, crime is down, and these four new skateparks we’re building will help make this city a more livable place for New Yorkers, young and old, to get outside and get active,” said Mayor Adams. “We’re grateful to our partners — from local elected officials to community advocates to Tony Hawk and The Skatepark Project — and we’re excited to hear from community members from across the city so we can make sure that these skateparks deliver for our city.”
“We’re in a New York skate of mind.”
“We’re in a New York skate of mind,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “High-quality, safe public space is not a luxury, it’s a right. Public scoping is a critical part of the process to ensure that we deliver spaces that reflect the needs and wants of our city. So please, get involved, make your voice heard, and help us create the best possible projects that include safe infrastructure and green space in equal measure.”
“As more and more New Yorkers pick up skateboards and discover the thrill and community that come with this Olympic sport, it’s vital that they have safe and accessible spaces to practice,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “By bringing four new skateparks to the Bronx and Brooklyn, we’re ensuring New Yorkers of all ages have access to safe spaces to perfect their ollies and kickflips, free from the distraction of car traffic and enhanced with new greenery that the entire community can enjoy. As with all of our projects, our design of these skateparks will be guided by extensive community input, so please get involved and let us know what you want to see in your local skatepark!”
“Let’s rock and roll, New York,” said Chief Public Realm Officer Ya-Ting Liu. “These four skateparks will give New Yorkers of all ages and abilities new, beautiful outdoor spaces to build community and develop their skills. It’s a part of our broader mission to transform what it feels like outside in New York City, and we’ll continue adding high-quality public space wherever we can, in all five boroughs.”
Skateboarding and other action sports are rapidly growing in New York City, even though there are not enough dedicated public spaces to safely accommodate them. These four new skateparks will provide anchor spaces for youth and adults to participate in all wheel sports, engage in community activities, and improve their mental and physical health, while delivering revitalized public spaces for all New Yorkers.
The design and public engagement phase will begin with a series of four community input meetings — one for each skatepark. The meetings will take place over the course of the month of May and will give New Yorkers the opportunity to share their vision for the skate parks with the city. The meetings are open to the public.
Brooklyn Skate Garden
The Brooklyn Skate Garden will deliver a revitalized Mount Prospect Park, with new trees and native plantings surrounding and elevating contextual skate infrastructure seated in the middle of the cultural hub of Brooklyn, including near the Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and farmer’s market, as well as close to multiple bus and subway lines. The skate garden will ensure that Mount Prospect Park can be used in all the ways it is today — for picnicking, dog walking, and more, as well as be utilized as a cultural home for wheeled sports in Brooklyn. It will deliver more and better seating, wayfinding, and public space for all New Yorkers. The first community input meeting for the Brooklyn Skate Garden will take place online tomorrow, Wednesday, May 1st at 6:00 PM.
Brower Park
In Brower Park, the city will construct a brand-new 9,000-square-foot custom concrete skatepark, replacing the outdated modular skatepark currently there with new and exciting features for skateboard enthusiasts of different abilities and interests. This project will also enhance the surrounding park landscape with new pavements and seating for spectators and parkgoers alike. The first community input meeting for the Brower Park skatepark will take place online on Wednesday, May 8th at 6:00 PM.
Bronx Park
In Bronx Park, the city will reimagine and construct a brand-new, 6,000-square-foot custom concrete skatepark. The city will replace the outdated existing steel ramp currently present with new and exciting features for skateboard enthusiasts of different abilities and interests. The first community input meeting for the Bronx Park skatepark will take place online on Tuesday, May 21st at 6:00 PM.
Soundview Park
In Soundview Park, the city will construct a brand-new, 15,000-square-foot custom concrete skatepark, replacing an underutilized and worn-out sports court with new and exciting features for skateboard enthusiasts of different abilities and interests. This project will also enhance the surrounding park landscape with new security lighting, pavements, and seating for spectators and parkgoers alike. The first community input meeting for the Soundview Park skatepark will take place in person at PS 107 on Wednesday, May 29 at 6:00 PM.
“Skateboarding is an incredibly popular pastime, enjoyed by 50 million people and generating over $2 billion in economic activity worldwide,” said New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar. “Our $24.8 million initiative to build four new skateparks in Brooklyn and the Bronx is essential to meet the overwhelming demand for this beloved action sport. This will allow even more New Yorkers to experience the exhilaration of skateboarding while also improving their physical fitness. Even better, we will now supplant Los Angeles as the city with the most skateparks, cementing our rightful place as the skateboarding capital of America.”
“I am excited to be working with Mayor Adams, NYC Parks, NYCEDC, and the Skatepark Project to bring a state-of-the-art skatepark to the Soundview community!” said New York City Council Majority Leader Amanda Farias. “As a student who skateboarded to and from school and who is native to Soundview, I am incredibly proud to be supporting this investment in our backyard with $1.5 million through my local budget. This project is a huge investment in the future of the Bronx and our Bronx youth. Skateparks help to build and sustain healthy communities while also giving our young people the opportunity to practice a sport that provides exercise, time outside in our community, and a sense of self-esteem. After the COVID-19 pandemic, our young New Yorkers deserve safe spaces to meet and share experiences- and that is what we are building for them with this project.”
“The Skatepark Project empowers our young people by constructing a space for self-expression, recreation, and community-building,” said New York City Councilmember Eric Dinowitz. Investment in the Bronx is crucial in serving underserved and underrepresented communities, as well as opening doors to opportunities for our youth. I am proud of our partnership with The Skatepark Project, which brings together both private and public advocacy to create this new space of inclusion and empowerment right in our homes.”
Photo credit: HWM.
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