Back to the Banks

The golden age of skateboarding boasted numerous famous locales; but unfortunately, many of those have been destroyed or suppressed by property owners with an interest to modernize. Iconic spots like the Carlsbad Gap or the old Love Park in Philadelphia have fallen victim to redevelopment, but the Brooklyn Banks will live on.

Fifteen years after its initial closure, the once-coined “Mecca of New York Skateboarding" has been fully reopened — almost identical to its original form. Originally slated for a four-year closure for construction on the Brooklyn Bridge, the Banks reopened on Thursday, June 5, this year. On Saturday, June 21, close to 3,000 skateboarders flocked to this cultural landmark for Go Skateboarding Day — many for their first time.

Go Skateboarding Day was started in 2004 by the International Association of Skateboard Companies. Over the years, the event has caught on with many cities nationwide witnessing big celebrations and still expanding with Burlington, VT, hosting its inaugural event at the A_Dog Williams Skate Park — a cornerstone of my own skateboarding journey.

While it may sound like just another holiday created by a marketing department, Go Skateboarding Day has evolved into something much more than that. It has transformed into a global phenomenon, uniting skateboarders of all ages and skill levels in a shared celebration of the sport. 

The Back to the Banks Go Skate Day event was hosted by 5Boro’s Steve Rodriguez and consisted of five cash-for-tricks sections including the 9-stair, 10-stair, 13-stair, bank to ledge (sponsored by Labor Skateboard Shop) and the bank to wallride. Competitors included big names like olympic athlete Zion Wright, local skate pro Jiro Platt, and former Thrasher Skater of the Year Kyle Walker, among others.

Each section was essentially a free-for-all, with a large collection of skaters throwing themselves relentlessly at each obstacle one after the other, somehow finding pockets in which to land tricks amidst the chaos of bodies and boards. What might seem overwhelming to an outsider is actually the purest expression of skateboarding's soul. The lack of rules or rigid structures captures the very essence of what skating has always been about — freedom. Fifteen years of eagerness brought on some incredible skating — from an acid-drop fingerflip off the pillar into the bank, Zion’s incredible backside overcrook on the 9-stair rail, and a boneless down the 13-stair — each trick a testament to this fifteen year hiatus.

Any professional skateboarding event exhibits something rare in competitive sports — genuine camaraderie among rivals. These groups of competitors have immense respect for one another — no sore losers, no posturing, just love for the sport. People aligned in their mutual respect for anyone willing to put their body on the line. Everyone at Brooklyn Banks — whether they are skating or spectating — just wants to witness something extraordinary that makes the crowd erupt with the weight of a decade and a half of anticipation.

Of the dozen people I asked, only a few had actually skated in the Banks section that had been closed for 15 years. Terry, a 43-year-old from Brooklyn who was shooting on his film camera, told Now Frolic, “all it’s missing is the graffiti” and that he “met some of his best friends here.”

Ryan, a 29-year-old skateboarder here for the first time, said, “when I moved here five years ago, I thought it was closed for good. This place is a staple in the skateboarding community; it’s pretty surreal being here.”

I also asked some first timers where they learned about the Brooklyn Banks. Unsurprisingly, many pointed to the location featuring in multiple skateboard video game franchises, like Tony Hawk popular with Millennials and EA Skate, a staple for Gen Z gamers.

Others mentioned learning about it after seeing the 1995 Larry Charles film KIDS. The film is famous in the skating community, and was written by a then 19-year-old NYU Film student Harmony Korine, who became familiar with Banks regulars in Lower Manhattan's skate scene in order to capture its raw authenticity. That same mid-90s era saw a small skate shop called Supreme open its doors on Lafayette Street, eventually becoming a global streetwear phenomenon that further amplified NYC's skate culture, and by extension The Brooklyn Banks.

I attended my first Go Skate Day in 2009 in Washington D.C., coincidentally the last year the Brooklyn Banks hosted a skate event until now. Thousands of skaters met up at the now-shuttered Palace 5ive skate shop and flooded the streets, seamlessly weaving between cars against a brutalist backdrop all the way to Freedom Plaza. However, after 15 or 20 minutes, cops stormed the crowd with riot gear and used unnecessary force against multiple skaters.

The case was the same at this year’s Washington D.C. event, as local police threatened arrest and forcibly dispersed the skaters at Freedom Plaza shortly after the majority of the skaters arrived. Ironically, the Brooklyn Banks are directly under an NYPD station. While cops were scattered around the event, all of the interactions I witnessed were positive. Once, a skater slipped out to have his board fetched and returned by a police officer at the bottom of the stairs — a picture-perfect moment that unfortunately went uncaptured. 

Fortunately, I now live in NYC — a city that has evolved into a sanctuary for skateboarders who have frequently found themselves to be targets of unwarranted prejudice elsewhere. It appears that the very essence of what we do — moving with grace and unbridled independence — unsettles those who can't understand it. Thankfully, the city does understand. Local leaders recently approved an investment of $24.8 million across four new skateparks, and hold a refreshing tolerance of DIY skateparks.

One such example is Tompkins Square Park, where the city has chosen to embrace a large section built for and maintained by local skaters. This cultural acceptance allowed Go Skate Day 2025 to be an official event hosted by Gotham Park, attracting sponsors like Vans, who — along with the Tony Hawk Project — refurbished a DIY skatepark at Brooklyn’s Blue Park in 2023, leaving permanent concrete obstacles that will be enjoyed for years to come. 

In this city where everything is expensive, we need more democratic spaces — places where admission is just showing up with a skateboard. Brooklyn Banks is a reminder that cities need spaces that resist commodification, that exist purely for the joy and community they create.