For over 25 years, the area underneath the Brooklyn Bridge, known as the Brooklyn Banks, was a remarkably popular spot for the skateboarding and BMX communities. It was internationally known to be the heart of the East Coast extreme sports scene. Participants from all over the globe would travel to New York just to experience this landmark. It has been featured in a number of skating documentaries and YouTube videos.
But in 2010, the New York State Department of Transportation announced repairs to the Brooklyn Bridge. The city closed off the Brooklyn Banks for the construction project, which was supposed to be finished in 2014.
It's now 2015, and the Brooklyn Banks remain closed and are being used for equipment storage. It's time for New York City to reopen the Banks. Please sign my petition to support NYC urban culture and public spaces: tell New York City to restore and reopen the Brooklyn Banks!
I am a BMX rider/competitor who grew up in NYC. Being so young, I never got the opportunity to ride the Brooklyn Banks or attend the annual Back to the Banks skateboard competition firsthand. Videos and magazine stories show me the space was once the Mecca of East Coast extreme sports. But ever since the closing of the Brooklyn Banks, the East Coast extreme sports scene has slowly been dying off, with many athletes moving to the West Coast.
The Brooklyn Banks was a cornerstone of NYC urban culture and a celebration of the importance of public spaces.The Brooklyn Banks is without a doubt a historical landmark in NYC; it bred talent, skill, and community.
Please sign my petition to support NYC urban culture and public spaces: tell New York City to restore and reopen the Brooklyn Banks!
