BROOKLYN, NY — A long-planned skatepark in Mount Prospect Park cleared a major hurdle as Brooklyn Community Board 8 voted overwhelmingly to approve the $11.1 million Brooklyn Skate Garden, moving the project closer to construction.
The proposal would transform a 19,500-square-foot section of the park into a landscaped skate space designed for riders of all skill levels, with features including rails, ledges, ramps and bowl elements.
Plans also call for 19 new trees, 8,500 square feet of plantings and a drainage system aimed at addressing persistent flooding in the park.
The project is part of a broader city initiative to expand skate and recreational infrastructure. It includes two new parks, the Brooklyn Skate Garden and Soundview Skatepark, and renovations to existing sites in Crown Heights and the Bronx.
The city will fund engineering and construction, while the Skatepark Project provided designs.
The nonprofit was founded in 2002 by skateboarder Tony Hawk and has supported hundreds of skateparks nationwide.
The design incorporates green infrastructure and new lighting, along with upgraded pathways and seating intended to support year-round use. Organizers said the layout reflects input gathered through public meetings and review by local officials.
“All wheeled riders will finally have a world-class Skate Garden to call home that is safe and environmentally responsible,” Loren Michelle, executive director of the Brooklyn Skate Garden and The Pablo Ramirez Foundation, said.
Supporters filled meetings over several years as the proposal moved through the approval process, including review by the Public Design Commission and a Community Board committee.
“The Brooklyn Skate Garden will attract the full range of New York City skaters of all ages and will build an amazing community,” Ian Clarke, founder of the NYC Skateboard Coalition, said.
In a board meeting in March, opponents described the plan as a fundamental change to the park’s character.
“The project would fundamentally change the park and displace the community that relies upon it every day,” Elizabeth Rawson, a Prospect Heights, said.
Others raised environmental concerns, pointing to the loss of permeable green space and potential heat impacts.
“This design destroys the heart and integrity of the park,” Hayley Gorenberg, president of Friends of Mount Prospect Park, said, who cited previous petitions and opposition from community organizations.
With the board’s vote secured, the project advances to the next phase before construction begins.