Diagram of new skate park

Vallone Brings Skate Park To Astoria

After four years of negotiations, City Councilmember Peter F. Vallone Jr. announced on Tuesday that the city Department of Parks and Recreation will start work next month on a new skate park in Astoria. Vallone secured more than $1 million in city funding for the skate park, the first of its kind in New York City. Located in Astoria Park below the Hell Gate Bridge, the facility will resemble an urban plaza and offer a place for skaters to have fun and exercise without bothering pedestrians or residents or using other parks not designed for skating.

Almost four years ago, Vallone noticed that a large parcel of land underneath the Hell Gate Bridge was fenced off and full of construction equipment. Vallone discovered that the lease of the construction company using the land had expired and petitioned the Parks Department not to renew it. In July 2007, the company was told to remove its equipment, and the site was cleared and prepped for construction months later. It now sits as a vacant, open area primed from work to begin.

Contractors plan to break ground on the project in early May and expect to finish the project in nine months. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $1.29 million. Of that budget, Vallone secured approximately $1,050,000, and the Bloomberg mayoral administration contributed the additional $250,000. The park will have several small benches, rails and ledges, similar to those in any urban setting but specifically designed for use by skaters. No ramp will be larger than three feet high, a stipulation meant to reduce risk and large crowds.