Image credit: NYC Department of Parks & Recreation.
On April 30, 2024, Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Sue Donoghue announced a partnership with The Skatepark Project and an investment of $24.8 million in skate parks in Brooklyn and the Bronx. The Skatepark Project is a nonprofit organization with a goal of providing safe and inclusive public skateparks for the youth and the City’s partnership with them will be in furtherance of Mayor Adams’ goal to invest in more public space for youths.
As interest in skating grows, the City is dedicating public spaces to safely accommodate youth and work to improve their mental and physical health by doing so. There will be a total of four skate parks invested in and each skatepark investment will begin with community input meetings designed to give New Yorkers the opportunity to share ideas with the City.
The first skatepark will be the Brooklyn Skate Garden, which will reside in a revitalized Mount Prospect Park. New trees and native plants will accompany the skate infrastructure and an emphasis will be placed on Mount Prospect Park maintaining its traditional use as well as a spot of picnicking, dog walking, and more.
The second skatepark will be at Brower Park, where a new 9,000-square-foot concrete skatepark will replace the outdated model currently housed at the park. The community input meeting for this project will take place online on Wednesday, May 8th at 6:00pm, please click here for more information.
The third skatepark will be in Bronx Park and will consist of a 6,000-square-foot custom concrete skatepark set to replace the current steel ramp. The community input meeting for this project will take place online on Tuesday, May 21st at 6:00pm, please click here for more information.
The fourth and final skatepark will be at Soundview Park where the City will construct a brand-new 15,000-square-foot concrete skatepark replacing the current sports court. The project will further enhance the surrounding park with new security lighting, pavements, and seating for park goers. The community input meeting for this project will take place in person at PS 107 on Wednesday, May 29th at 6:00pm.
Mayor Adams said, “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. 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.”
NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue said, “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. 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!”
New York City Council Majority Leader Amanda Farias said, “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! 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.”
By: Meg Beauregard (Meg is the CityLaw intern, and a New York Law School student, Class of 2024).
New York City Mayor’s Office and New York City Department of Parks and Recreation: “Mayor Adams Takes Major Steps Towards Transforming New York City Into Skate Capital of East Coast” (April 30, 2024).