Work Begins On New Skatepark In Riverside Park

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Work to reconstruct the skatepark in Riverside Park kicked off last week and an official groundbreaking ceremony was held over the weekend. The $2.6 million project will make the skatepark safer and feature elements that appeal to skaters of all skill levels, officials said.

The city has been planning a reconstruction of the skatepark — located near the park's West 108th Street entrance — since 2017. The Parks Department's original plan for the park did not go over well with skaters who frequent the space, but the city took the skater's concerns and used them to draw up a new design.

The skaters' primary grievance with the original plan was that it did not carry on the vision of Andy Kessler, one of the original park's designers and a New York skating legend. Namely, the city's plan didn't originally include a feature to replace the large vert ramp the current park is known for.

When the new park debuts after construction it will feature an 11-foot-deep bowl, a vertical skating element that will make Riverside Park stand out compared to skate parks around the city. The new park will also feature a half pipe, a quarter pipe and beginner skating area, skating banks and elevated areas with elements such as table tops and stairs.

The skatepark reconstruction will cost an estimated $2.6 million and should be complete by May 2020. Funding for the project was allocated by Borough President Gale Brewer, and City Councilmembers Mark Levine and Helen Rosenthal.