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Skateboarding ‘Mecca' under Brooklyn Bridge reopens after 15 years
Skaters are kickflipping with joy.
A massive section of public space under the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge has reopened after 15 years with a spate of new amenities – including a site once known as the 'mecca of New York skateboarding.'
Two acres of 'The Arches,' named for the 53 arches under the historic bridge, reopened Thursday with the legendary 'Brooklyn Banks' skateboarding site, which was shuttered in 2010 to serve as a contractor staging area during the restoration of the Brooklyn Bridge.
'In the shade of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, this project delivers many things — an architectural marvel, a proper home for skating in one of the sport's global hubs, and a place to relax in a neighborhood with too few,' Deputy Mayor for Operations Jeff Roth said in a statement.
Mayor Eric Adams' administration began revitalizing the area near Chinatown in 2023 with space for shuffleboard, basketball, pickleball and seating in one of the city's most crowded neighborhoods. The project also gave access to the space under the Brooklyn Bridge's landmarked vaulted archways.
Tony Hawk's nonprofit Skatepark Project had also advocated for years for the Brooklyn Banks to return to its roots as part of the renovation, with project CEO Benjamin Anderson Bashein calling Brooklyn Banks an 'icon of skating around the world.
'To have it reopened is absolutely profound,' Bashein said. 'This historic skate spot is a special place where people from across the world have come to skate and to find community, and we're thrilled to see it open to the public once again.'
Another $50 million for public seating, plantings, lighting and more at The Arches is earmarked from the Adams administration's 2026 budget, part of the mayor's 'We Outside Summer' investment and programming initiative.
Thursday's reopening serves as the largest plaza portion to reopen under the phased renovation, which includes Gotham Park – a planned 9-acre urban community space around the iconic bridge.
The incoming multi-million investment is expected to 'bring this space back to life, and transform it into a lively, inclusive space for friends and neighbors to come together,' Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement, 'welcoming New Yorkers from all walks of life.
'Right in time for our 'We Outside Summer,' The Arches brings us closer to creating a more equitable, livable, and prosperous New York.'
