This archive report was first published on 26 August 2019.
For nearly three decades, the unofficial skate park in Tompkins Square Park has been a sanctuary for skateboarders, a place where they can learn new skills and forge long-lasting friendships.
But now, the Department of Parks and Recreation is planning to lay down artificial turf to accommodate hundreds of children who play organized softball and baseball, displacing the skateboarders and sparking a heated debate about what sports and groups are valued in ever-wealthier Lower Manhattan.
The Parks Department says it must prioritize 'youth sports,' but the skateboarders argue that their sport should not be given short shrift. They have circulated a petition, which has gained over 30,000 signatures, asking that Tompkins Square Park be left as is.
The clash between the city and the skateboarders began after the skateboarders learned that the nearby East River Park would be closed in 2020 for a $1.45 billion renovation. The shutdown, which could last about four years, means that park's ballplayers will have to go elsewhere.
The Parks Department identified the corner in Tompkins Square Park and spaces on four other properties for 'asphalt to turf' conversions. 'We don't have anything against asphalt,' said Liam Kavanagh, the Parks Department's first deputy commissioner. 'But when you have a situation where you are balancing literally thousands of hours of permitted youth sports that don't have a place to go, we have to prioritize youth sports.'
The skateboarders said they cannot skate on artificial turf and that sidewalks and streets are not safe for them or pedestrians. Tompkins Square Park, which reopened in 1992 after large-scale renovations, appeals to the skateboarders because of its lack of ramps and handrails. Rookies can feel intimidated in skate areas with obstacles, they said.
Street-hockey players also use the blacktop for games. Steve Rodriguez, a skateboarder who has served as a liaison to the Parks Department, emphasized his emotional connection to the park. New York is his home, Mr. Rodriguez said, and Tompkins Square Park 'is definitely a room in that home.'
Adam Zhu, 22, started the petition. 'There is something important about this specific spot, and that has to do with the history of the park at large and our personal history with the park — having grown up here, met all our friends here.'
The petition led to a meeting with the Parks Department last month, where skateboarders asked officials to consider sparing Tompkins Square Park. The department has since said it has made no decision on when it would install the turf.
