​Bayville Family Transforms Basement Into An Indoor Skate Park

BERKELEY, NJ — A single piece of wood has evolved into a miniature skate park in the basement of a Bayville home.

Angelo DeVito’s two sons have both been riding bikes and scooters since they were as young as three years old, spending up to six days each week at Veteran’s Park.

The snow, ice and freezing temperatures of the winter months forced the two boys, ages 7 and 9, to practice inside their home, leaning makeshift planks of wood against furniture in their basement.

“I watched them get creative on their own," DeVito said. "All their improvisations were really cool to watch, and I thought ‘Let me do this right for these guys.'"

DeVito has worked in construction for 25 years, overseeing many home renovation projects, though this was his first attempt at building a skate ramp.

“I had some stuff laying around that I brought home and one thing led to another, and now it’s like a full skate park down there,” he said. “They love it. In between classes, they’re down here riding.”

Over the past two months, DeVito and his sons brainstormed together on how they would design the underground skate park.

DeVito ripped out a kitchen island in the basement to make space, and with wood, saws and nail guns, he assembled the sloping ramps. His sons took care of the aesthetics, rolling paint on to ramps that are twice their height.

The finished ramps, sanded with smooth curves and pocketed with short drops, stretch across the floor reaching up to seven feet tall on one end.

Despite how life was turned upside down for many kids amid the pandemic, DeVito said his sons have continued to excel in school. Both boys were recently recognized as students of the month at their elementary school.

“They really earned it—look at the student of the month medals. I’m so proud of them,” he said. “They ride all day and night, and they haven’t touched a PlayStation or Xbox in months, which is beautiful.”

The home skate park is still evolving. DeVito plans to clear more space in their basement to add another section with a ramp and a bowl. He's also interested in building ramps for other people in their own homes and backyards.

“I’m passionate about building and especially now realizing how happy this makes kids,” Devito said.

DeVito posted a video of the home skate park to the Lacey Township Chatter Facebook page and on YouTube.

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