The NYC skateboarding community will likely lose a beloved historical landmark and it will never be the same even if they give it back.

Architectural structures reveal a great deal about their social context, not simply by their intended use, but by the spontaneous and evolving communal activity that is discovered in rivalry, camaraderie, the spirit of play and the human pursuit of something epic.

New York City – the greatest “engineering work of the Continent” unintentionally became one of the most skatable international cities, drawing skateboarders from all over the world, across all social classes and racial demographics, who come to pay tribute to its urban beauty.

“The contemplated work, when constructed in accordance with my design, will not only be the greatest bridge in existence, but it will be the great engineering work of the Continent and of the age.”

- Report to the New York Bridge Company September 1, 1867 – Plan and Details of Anchorage, Approaches, Towers, and Steel Cables.

It was built. They came. Now they are taking it away…. again.
But there is hope.

The answer lies in the very initiative the drives skateboarding; creative expression. If the space beneath the bridge is destined to be destroyed, than perhaps the skateboarding community needs to stop saying "what a bummer man" and rethink the situation.

The outcome could be so much greater then the reality. Also, if it is possible to keep it open when the space is not being used, then it will give the community a chance to part with it.

To me, the best solution would be to create an unprecedented skate-able tribute, in honor of the esteemed history of the Brooklyn Banks, and then, to let evolution take it’s course.

Briefly, about the Brooklyn Banks

It was through compromise and consideration, that the Brooklyn Banks became a local skate spot, thanks to the dedicated few who turned frustration into action.

There have always been controversies. Skaters, everywhere, through-out history have been pushed out of parks, parking lots, pools, and other spaces. There was very little salvation and only a few places where they were accepted. But they adapted and found forgotten places, took them over guerilla-diy style and made them something far more then they were intended to be. And they’ve lost them.

The Brooklyn Banks is a unique park that truly reflects the spirit of New York City.

When it was built in 1960’s, its purpose was to make use of the dark crime-infested space, between the bridge’s off-ramp and the anchorage. (The anchorage houses the four massive steel cables that suspend the “Great Avenue” across the East River, and connect Manhattan to Brooklyn. ) Skaters were drawn to it’s rolling brick face and seclusion – there was nothing else like it. Now, it a landmark, that attracts more then just skateboarders; bikers, inliners, scooter kids, filmers and photographers.

The banks are not like Burnside or FDR, infamous skater-built and skater-funded parks, with huge concrete transitions and territorial locals. It is a park that became so much more then it intended to be. The very spirit of the Brooklyn Banks’s existence today (thanks to the efforts of leaders in community) has been built out of compromise and perseverance. That is what makes it special.

Interesting fact: In the 1980’s, VCRs came on the scene and the legendary 1985 Powell Peralta release Future-Primitive featured New York City. (Future Primitive: A collection of essays, by John Zerzan, asserting that engineering and technology are carefully constructed means of enslaving people.)

Understanding the conflict

What the DOC?

The Brooklyn Bridge is among the most severely dilapidated bridges in the United States. A very complicated reconstruction and restoration project is about to begin in December. They say until 2014. The New York City Department of Transportation has quietly announced that they will be closing down the Manhattan park known as the Brooklyn Banks and using it as parking lot for the heavy machinery required to restore the bridge.

Of course, human life should take precedence.

However, the skateboarding community did not find out the details of the park’s closure until a Downtown Express reporter overheard it in a planning meeting. Skateboarding advocates have since asked for more information, so that maybe there is a chance to save something…

something can mean everything.

Is asking for a little consideration too much?

In an essence, skateboarding advocates are scrambling, on last minute notice, for an opportunity to know the facts. With the facts, they can help facilitate a compromise that pays due respect to the revered landmark that is being taken from them. Skateboarding advocates are not unrealistic. The safety of the Brooklyn Bridge and human life takes precedence, no matter how significant the park is. However, the local skaters deserve to have a voice, as well as, the thousands who have made the pilgrimage to New York and have paid homage to The Brooklyn Banks. But will the New York City Departments of Transportation and Parks give such a small thing, as a bit of consideration? They should. Because they will have been a part of something epic.

Win / Win

When you think back to the when Philadelphia took hostage of Love Park, you have to wonder if, with compromise, the city and it’s community could have created something greater.

If skateboarders are anything, they are persistent. And over the years, skateboarding has proved that it is an economic force to be reckoned with. There are opportunities here. To do something greater than imagined, but they can’t be pursued without an understanding of what the DOC’s plan is.

A worthy tribute

The bricks that have been laid each hold an incalculable value.
What better way to pay tribute to the importance the Banks and the evolution of New York City skateboarding, then to perhaps design a new public space or art installation, from the very bricks that already exist? Before they are destroyed.

So if this article serves as anything, it should be to call out to those creative thinkers and builders of public art to do something. Even if all it is, is an idea. Do something. Before it is too late.

The future is not set in stone.

Instead of focusing at what will be lost, we need seize the opportunity to preserve and memorialize the symbolic importance of the legendary skate spot. The Brooklyn Banks were not always what it is today. Part of the beauty of evolution is what is constructed out of destruction.

Final thoughts for the haters.

There have been comments on other articles questioning the significance of the Brooklyn Banks, making statements like "They suck.", "They are not that well known" or "Typical elitist east coast thinking." Clearly these comments come from those who can’t hang with the monster truckers that skate here in New York.

1. A look back at the struggles and triumphs that have gone down in this place is proof enough that the Brooklyn Banks are a legitimate and important icon in New York City skateboarding.
2. The Brooklyn Banks have been represented in the famous street course built by the Maloof Brothers in Costa Mesa California
3. Some of the first east coast / New York competitions took place at the Brooklyn Banks. Not soft cushy competitions put on by corporations, but unprecedented, guerilla-syle, street comps.
4. There is a tech deck representation of the Brooklyn Banks.
5. Only small minded idiotic wannabe’s who have absolutely nothing to offer can claim that the Brooklyn Banks mean nothing. You can take your small…. err… mindedness and go do something ordinary in the smooth little skate park that "your daddy" built you. So if you truely have nothing to offer, shut the hell up you scum bag, jerk offs..

Skate Jams and Skate Camps are a great way for local kids to meet other kids to skate with at some of the city’s coolest skate parks.  This year Uptown will be conducting Skate Camp at Hudson skate park on the water. 

Waivers must be signed in person or notarized in advance!!!  Download Park Waiver Here

Skate Camp is Available for only a few weeks and space is very very limited, first come first serve, so get on it while you have the chance!

Sessions consist of  highly supervised learning and free skating and are small sessions only.

*The third day of Week 1 will be a Thursday due to 4th of July weekend.

How does skate camp work?

Students are dropped off at the park on the first day.  Parents are required to sign a waiver

Location: Hudson Skate Park(34th street/ West Side Highway)

When: Three days a week from 11AM – 3PM.  

Cost: $340 / Student

Alternative rain days are arranged on the Tuesday or Thursday of that week, as needed. 

View Larger Map

Subway
A,C,E at 34th St.
1,2,3 at 34th St.

Bus
M23, M34

UPDATE:  As of May 30th, LES Skate Park has Skate Art thanks to Open Road and other organizations in the city.  Wooooo!

I am frustrated that the Upper East Side and East Harlem still don’t have a single decent place for local kids to skate without having to dodge baseballs and adult hockey players.  There are a couple spots we’ve found in the projects of East Harlem where local kids hang out, but they are not exactly safe, nor are they accessible.

I don’t live in the other communities, so I can only speak for mine.  I’m sure we’re are not alone here.

Most decent places, unused places even, have been gated off and of course every courtyard has been doctored with ugly skate stops and even wrought iron gates, so as to make the public space exclusive to hotel guests.

Embrace it, because we are not going anywhere.

New York City is not a surf town, New York City  is  not snowboarding / skiing town, New York City is the concrete jungle.  You built this.  We came and now you have to own up to what you’ve created. 

A phenomenon.   So… take what you invested in art installations like the orange flags of Central Park and put that into skateboarding and you will be amazed by what you’ve done.  People will come and they will be impressed… and not only the skaters.

Even property owners should have an interest in this, because if you give us realistic alternatives, chances are we will abandon your "high level bust spots" and settle comfortably into new skatable hassle free public spaces.

The real problem:  The city overestimates what local skaters need. 

We actually do not require a lot of space!  Nor a big investment.

Whenever local communities talk about providing space for skaters the bureaucrats flip out because they believe that in order to provide space, they have to build ramps and half pipes, hire staff to manage it, and pay for the insurance to cover the park.  The few scantily designed skate parks are on the outskirts of New York where they are only accessible to a limited number of people/kids who can travel.

There are affordable and aesthetically appealing alternatives.

We are New York City, living in the year 2009, not California> in the 70′s. 

New York City re-invented street skating (Some will criticize this, but it’s true.)  It was east coast kids living in dilapidated urban neighborhoods who looked at park benches and ledges and rails and thought; I want to skate that!  

NEW YORK CITY needs to embrace the flavor that the skateboarding community adds to this city because we are here and we make money for this city.  Look at brands and stores that reside in SoHo and you’ll find that they are strongly influenced by our presence.

Even look at the additional commerce we bring to areas like DUMBO, where Bodegas stay in business purely because of the LES skate park’s existence. And even consider the fact that every skater has an MTA card in their pocket, because we are constant drifters on the public transportation system. 

In fact, you could even consider us a perfectly green movement in the coolest, ground breaking city in the world.

Skate spots need to be relevant

Non-skateboarding entities and public parks produce "Pre-Fab Skate Parks” that are often out of touch with today’s form of skateboarding and these playground structures have only helped to keep skaters away from the very skate parks your tax dollars help pay for, Says Team Pain.  "As skateboarders we view our surroundings, our architecture in a different perspective; as a possible “skate spot”. Every building, courtyard, alley, ditch and sidewalk is a potential place to skate. What is unique and new to be skated? The desire to find a new spot that is challenging and inspiring to skate, film and take photographs. Skaters gather together where marble benches, ledges, stairs, handrails and sculptural pieces exist; purely because of this creative perspective. We seek challenges that give us a sense of freedom." – Team Pain

What you think we want and what we need are two different things. 

Stop trying to hoard us into small gated areas on the far west side of Manhattan and give us some simply designed open spaces in our own neighborhoods, where parents can take their kids and spend the day.

There are ways to create skateable spaces that are as much a part of the city’s aesthetic as any other public space.  Team Pain presented their skateable public art at the 2009 Surf Expo in Florida this year.  Their creative approach makes public art multifunctional and aesthetically pleasing. 

Skateparks are usually made up of features that the intermediate to advanced skaters can really take advantage of but beginners struggle with. Imagine having a place with a couple of concrete bumps and a concave baby pool, along with creative some benches and ledges.  Neighborhood places where anybody go with their kids and enjoy the time they spend with them.

Think about all of the creative ways you can make that space useful and interesting and thought provoking.

"Our aim with Skate Art and consistent mission is to keep the roots of skateboarding alive by offering elements that are unique, custom and offer challenges to any skateboarder. Skate Art is individual pieces that are specific to street skating and allows you to customize each piece with various materials, colors, patterns and even custom art work, offering an aesthetically pleasing solution for municipalities to include street skating elements into their parks system and other various uses. Our experienced team of skate park professionals would assist in the design and layout of each custom piece to create a street inspired skate park or one to several pieces to be placed within an existing skate park or public space to ensure proper skateability and pedestrian safety." – Team Pain

Florida Part 1: KONA – The Disney World of Skateboarding

“Loving you is easy cause you’re beautiful..  do do do dooo..”  – I Love Kona!  There.  I said it.  No, wait, I LOOOOOOVE KONA!!!! Still doesn’t do it justice.  Be the hero – Drop your kids off and go to the beach.  If they love skateboarding, you will make their lifetime.

Affortable Family Owned Park: Skate all day.

Kid-friendly family appeal: Kona is the world’s oldest operating skate park, built in 1977.  It’s Family owned and everybody there treats you like family and has hosted just about every major pro in its time.    Pros like: Mike Peterson, Buck Smith, Neal Mims and Cairo Foster call the area of Jacksonville, FL. home.  HI TROY!!!!!  Say hi to Troy when you get there, he’s a super cool, stand up guy.  Thanks Man!

Concrete Tranny Heaven:  There are ACRES of TRANSITION  Super huge mellow bowls and two sick snake runs.  There’s so much there that any skater can learn on.

Kona has everything and it’s twice as big and hardcore as you could ever imagine. They’ve got old school that’s actually old, including a wicked downhill snake run, a weird 70′s "freestyle" area, a big porcelain pool and a vert ramp from 1989 built entirely of concrete. They’ve got wood too. Finally, a jumbo metal street course w/ ample kickers and big country trannie for everyone.

Night Skating: Late sessions are popular to beat the heat and extensive lighting means the trannie freaks come out at night”

Features: Concrete/Wood/Metal

HUGE Vert ramp and Street Course, Concrete speed runs, two snake runs, J-run, 30′ deep bowl with 6′ tombstone extension, freestyle area. 15,000 sq/ft, x-game style course with metal surface, 10’deep kidney pool, Ramps * Vert 46′ wide – 11 1/2 tall * Mini spine/ 32′ wide with extension. There’s big porcelain pool and a vert ramp from 1989 built entirely of concrete  There’s a big +6 ft wood mini-to-mini spine w/ extensions and another wooden vert ramp.  I doubt I came even close to covering all of it – I was there for about 24 hours of my life and I couldn’t skate everything.

Family Vacation - If you are taking a trip to Florida with your family and have a few little skate rats in the back seat, then KONA KONA KONA!

Skatetastic Voyage –  If you ever just happen to want to take a skate trip, go to Florida and make sure you hit KONA at least twice.  You’ll need to separate your visits though; two days in a row could kill you.  So it look more like: KONA…….. KONA.

Longboarding SkatePark? – KONA – The first time I ever saw a longboarder in a skatepark was at KONA.  They have the perfect terrain to learn how to carve frontside/backside and burt slides.  Really worth your time.

Other Stuff: Blades and Bikes on Thursday nights.

Don’t have equipment with you?  Covered.  Rental Rates Helmet: $2.00, Elbow Pads: $1.00, Knee Pads: $1.00, Wrist Guards: $1.00, Skateboards: $5.00, Inline Skates: $10.00

Helmet Policy:  Kona requires of a helmet (with chin strap) at all times. Use of elbow pads, knee pads and wrist guards are recommended but not required for skaters over 16 or whose parents have signed an advance status waiver. All these are available for rental.

Monday – Friday : 1pm – 10pm |  Saturday : 10am – 10pm  |  Sunday : 12pm – 9pm

KONA SKATEPARK . 8739 KONA AVE . JACKSONVILLE FL 32211 . (904)725-8770 . 1-800-SK8-KONA

Some people will tell you to check out the VANS Park.  Sure.. It’s big and cool, but a rip off too and it still is no freaking KONA, not even close.  Nothing is KONA in my book.  KONA is super affordable and you can skate ALL DAY.  If you bring in a report card with good grades, dude you can skate for free.  Parents Skate Free!