Brooklyn Skates Closes After Losing Its Bed-Stuy Space

BEDFORD-STUYVESANT, BROOKLYN — A local roller rink has been forced to hang up its skates after losing its space in Bed-Stuy, organizers announced.

Brooklyn Skates announced on Instagram Wednesday it will no longer host roller rink nights at the Salvation Army on Kosciuszko Street near Nostrand Avenue.

"Unfortunately the rumors are true," Brooklyn Skates organizers wrote. "We're unable to keep using the space in Bed Stuy for our skate nights."

Instructor Edward Jacobs, 58, told Gothamist that the Salvation Army chose to expand hours for youth basketball players who complained the skaters scuffed up the floor.

The Salvation Army confirmed to Gothamist it ended skate nights to make time for other programming.

Brooklyn Skates began as the Crazy Legs Skate Club more than a decade ago when the late Lezly Ziering, a dancer the New York Times credits with reviving skating in Central Park, stumbled upon the space.

"We didn't have any place to go, but this place was great," Ziering told Patch in 2011. "We had to do a lot of work on it, but it's good now."

Brooklyn Skates organizers are now calling on members for help finding a new space in the neighborhood.

"Please send us any information and share any contacts you have," they wrote. "We're not going anywhere, and we'll keep fighting to keep skating."

Local Nasilele Holland has also started a petition — signed by nearly 700 people as of Thursday morning — to save Brooklyn Skates.

"For many of us it is the the most easily accessible place to skate that provides a feeling of safe fun and community," Holland wrote.

"It has provided community, a form of therapy, exercise, and joy for many skaters of all ages and backgrounds."