After 15 years, a sizable area of public space beneath the Brooklyn Bridge’s Manhattan side has reopened with a host of new features, including what was previously referred to as the “mecca of New York skateboarding.”
The renowned “Brooklyn Banks” skating venue, which was closed in 2010 to use as a contractor staging area while the Brooklyn Bridge was being restored, reopened Thursday on two acres of “The Arches,” called for the 53 arches beneath the historic 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 stated.
In 2023, the administration of Mayor Eric Adams started to revitalize the region next to Chinatown by adding seating, shuffleboard, basketball, and pickleball courts to one of the most congested neighborhoods in the city. Access to the area beneath the Brooklyn Bridge’s landmarked vaulted arches was also made possible by the project.
As part of the reconstruction, Tony Hawk’s nonprofit Skatepark Project had long pushed for the Brooklyn Banks to revert to its historical roots; project CEO Benjamin Anderson Bashein referred to the Brooklyn Banks as a “icon of skating around the world.”
“To have it reopened is absolutely profound,” Bashein stated. “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.”
As part of the mayor’s “We Outside Summer” investment and programming campaign, an additional $50 million has been set aside from the Adams administration’s 2026 budget for public seats, plantings, lighting, and other improvements at The Arches.
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As part of the gradual reconstruction, Gotham Park, a projected 9-acre urban communal area surrounding the iconic bridge, will be the largest plaza portion to reopen on Thursday.
According to a statement from Mayor Eric Adams, the upcoming multi-million dollar investment would “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.
“Right in time for our ‘We Outside Summer,’ The Arches brings us closer to creating a more equitable, livable, and prosperous New York.”
