Riverside Skatepark

Riverside Skatepark is a skatepark located in Riverside Park on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, New York City.[1] Riverside Skatepark is notable as the first full-sized public skatepark in Manhattan, designed and built by renowned skateboarder and skatepark builder Andy Kessler.[2]

Riverside Skatepark
Riverside Skatepark looking North
TypeSkatepark
LocationUpper West Side, Manhattan
Coordinates40°48′18″N 73°58′14″W
OpenedAugust 1996
Operated byNYC Parks
StatusUnder reconstruction
TerrainWooden ramps

History

Built in 1995-1996, Riverside Skatepark was the first full-sized public skatepark in Manhattan.[1] Andy Kessler headed up efforts to create Riverside Skatepark in collaboration with the New York City Parks Department and Riverside Parks Conservancy administrator Charles McKinney.[2][3] The wooden park was built with the help of teenagers from Harlem and the Upper West Side.[4] Riverside Skatepark opened in August 1996.[4][2]

Concrete remodel (2019-2020)

In June 2019, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation broke ground on a concrete remodel of the Riverside Skatepark.[5]

Terrain

Riverside Skatepark is approximately 100 ft. by 300 ft. making it about 30,000 sq ft.[6] Prior to the concrete remodeling, its main features were wooden ramps, the biggest being a vert ramp, 10ft high by 28ft long, including a foot of vert.[7] Other features include a 6Ft. mini ramp, a micro mini ramp and a wall ride.[8]

  • Vert Ramp looking North with Wall Ride on South West side
  • Micro Mini Ramp looking North
  • 6Ft. Mini Ramp looking West

Events

The annual Riverside Skate Jam is held at the end of the season, typically September or October, featuring judged competitions with 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes awarded for Juniors Micro Mini Ramp, Girls Micro Mini Ramp, Wall Ride, Vert Ramp under 40's and Vert Ramp Masters (40 and over).[9]

References
  1. Kilgannon, Corey (2013-09-03). "Preserving a Skateboarding Park and Its Creator's Memory". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  2. McKinney, Charles (1997). "Collaboration with Teens Creates Popular Skate Park". Project for Public Spaces.
  3. Martin, Douglas (2009-08-13). "Andy Kessler, Skateboard Hero, Dies at 48". The New York Times.
  4. Olson, Steve (September 2009). "Andy Kessler". Juice Magazine.
  5. "Andy Kessler [Riverside] Skatepark Construction Begins (2019)". NYSkateboarding.com. 2019-06-09. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  6. https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=40.804972&mlon=-73.970805&zoom=15#map=19/40.80490/-73.97102
  7. "Skate Parks : NYC Parks". www.nycgovparks.org. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  8. admin (2014-09-14). "GRO NYC - Girls Ramp Division At Riverside Skate Contest". GRO. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  9. "Riverside Park Skate Jam (2016-09-11)". riversideparknyc.org. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
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