Two dilapidated skate parks in the Bronx will be undergoing a “180” in the near future, with plans to transform them into state-of-the-art skateboard venues in an effort to promote the sport in the borough.
City officials along with local skateboard advocates are behind the plan to overhaul the two existing skating areas via the construction of a skate park at Soundview Park, which will replace a defunct roller rink, and the revamp of the Allerton Skate Park located inside Bronx Park. Multiple city officials and skating enthusiasts are behind the plans, including Mayor Eric Adams, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks), NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), local council members and the non-profit skateboarding organization The Skatepark Project, along with other local skate advocates.
The total cost of the two new Bronx skate park projects has yet to be announced, as specific plans for each skatepark are in the design phase. It is also unclear when they will be completed.
City officials and advocates for both projects, however, say they plan to work with the community to get input before overhauling and constructing the new skate parks.
“As we develop these spaces in the Bronx, (we are) committed to meeting the needs of the surrounding community through every step of the process,” said Benjamin Bashein, executive director of The Skatepark Project, who also said that the organization works to equip low-income, under-resourced communities with quality skateparks.
Soundview Park Project
The skate park that is planned for Soundview Park will be 15,000 square feet and will replace the existing beaten-up asphalt rink located in the park, according to The Skatepark Project, a skateboard advocacy group formerly known as the Tony Hawk Foundation. Soundview Skatepark, which will be custom poured-in-place, is being co-designed by Tyshawn Jones, a professional skateboarder, along with The Skatepark Project.
Jones is a New York City…
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