New public space and skateboarding section open as part of revitalized Brooklyn Banks
Photos courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr
Two more acres of public open space have opened beneath the Brooklyn Bridge in Chinatown, as part of the revitalization of skateboarding mecca Brooklyn Banks. Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday announced the expansion of “The Arches,” along with an additional $50 million in funding to further enhance the park with new amenities, including public seating, plantings, lighting, and other upgrades. The new section includes a refurbished “Big Banks,” which has been closed to skateboarders since 2010. The city began revitalizing and gradually reopening it as a public space in May 2023.
This latest phase of Brooklyn Banks restoration includes the reopening of the Big Banks, which spans two blocks and has been revamped with new brick paving. The Small Banks will be rebuilt as part of the final phase.
“The revitalization and re-opening of the Brooklyn Banks is a monumental moment for skateboarding,” Benjamin Anderson Bashein, CEO, The Skatepark Project, 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. We are grateful to our partners at City Hall, who have prioritized this project, along with Gotham Park and Vans, whose unwavering support has helped make this dream project become a reality.”
The latest phase of revitalization honors this legacy through a partnership with nonprofit Gotham Park and the Skatepark Project, the nonprofit founded by legendary skater Tony Hawk, who recently tried out the reopened Big Banks.
“The Arches” takes its name from the 53 archways beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, which has seen over $1 billion in improvements in the past decade—the most significant rehabilitation since its completion in 1883. This newly reopened section had previously served as a contractor staging area during the bridge’s restoration.
The expansion returns the largest portion of the plaza—more than two acres—to the Lower Manhattan community. It joins over an acre of space already reopened and includes access to the vaulted areas beneath the Brooklyn Bridge’s archways.
The Brooklyn Banks was an iconic skateboarding and BMX hub that was popular starting in the 1980s until its closure in 2010.
In 2020, two Pace University students petitioned to save the Brooklyn Banks, which got the attention of the local community board. In January 2023, plans to revive the park moved forward when Adams expressed support for the new public spaces in his State of the City address, as 6sqft previously reported.
Since May 2023, the city has gradually reopened sections of The Arches as public space. In November 2024, the city reopened an additional 15,000 square feet of park space at “The Arches,” closed for nearly 15 years, featuring new greenery and public seating.
“Public space in this city is precious — it’s where our families create memories, it’s where our children play, and it’s where communities come to relax. Today, we return two more acres of public space back to the local Chinatown community at ‘The Arches,’ giving New Yorkers more outdoor space to exercise, engage with others, and enjoy,” Adams said.
“We are also investing $50 million in funding to bring this space back to life, and transform it into a lively, inclusive space for friends and neighbors to come together, welcoming New Yorkers from all walks of life.”
RELATED:
