Bronx Skate Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bronx Skate Park |
|
|---|---|
| Allerton Skate Park | |
 |
|
| Type | Skate park |
| Location | Bronx, New York |
| Area | 6,000 sq ft (560 m2) |
| Created | New York City Department of Parks and Recreation |
| Designation | Bronx Skate Park |
The Bronx Skate Park, also known as Allerton Skate Park, is a fun place for skateboarding in The Bronx, New York City. It's located inside Bronx Park, just north of Allerton Avenue. This skate park is about 6,000 square feet (557 square meters) in size.
The park has a smooth surface for skating. It also has cool features like a quarter pipe, ramps with ledges, a skate pyramid, and grind rails. As of 2020, it was one of six skate parks in The Bronx managed by NYC Parks.
History of the Skate Park
The Bronx Skate Park first opened its doors in June 2008. This was part of a bigger project to improve Bronx Park, which cost $1.4 million. The project also included building a new soccer field with artificial grass.
Before this park was built, the closest skate park was in Throggs Neck. The idea for the Bronx Skate Park came from the manager of a nearby McDonald's restaurant. He saw kids skateboarding in the restaurant's parking lot and wanted them to have a safer place to skate. Because of these improvements, Bronx Park was named "Park of the Month" in September 2009.
Plans for a New Design
In 2014, a local person named Ron Cicatelli suggested making the park even better. He wanted to use private money to update the park. Cicatelli thought the park was "outdated" and needed a fresh look.
He proposed a new design by Steve Rodriguez. Rodriguez is sometimes called the "Mayor of NYC Skate Parks" because he has designed other skate parks in New York City. The plan was approved by a local group called Community Board 11. As of March 2014, the plan was waiting for approval from the city's parks department. Cicatelli believed the new design would make the park a "destination" that would attract more visitors and help local businesses.
How the Park is Recognized
In 2018, Vlad Gomez, who helped start the Public Housing Skate Team, mentioned Allerton Skate Park as one of the two main skate parks in The Bronx. This shows it's an important spot for skateboarders in the area.
