ReadyMade: Instructions for everyday life

My introduction to any and everything DIY was through skateboarding. After a brief flirtation with BMX racing in elementary school I got heavily into skating by the sixth grade and spent most of my teen years building ramps and riding them. (Below, Tim Lane on one of the ramps I helped build in Davis, California, circa 1988. Photo by Greg Hanes.)

While my skating habits have dropped off considerably the past few years I always try to keep up with what’s happening in that world. Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about getting a new board. This urge has picked up considerably over the last few days after reading Katherine Sharpe’s great post on reusing old skate decks and all of my thinking and writing about Detroit. Much of the talks we’ve been having about Detroit have revolved around skateparks and how they do or don’t fit into the urban/suburban/rural environment. After a flurry of email exchanges about this yesterday I got to thinking about one of the best skate spots in the country, the Brooklyn Banks, and decided to pay them a visit.

Thousands of people find their way to downtown Manhattan everyday to make the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and take in the sites while suspended over the East River. The Brooklyn Banks, directly below the bridge at the corner of Frankfort and Gold, are no less a tourist destination for thousands of skaters and BMX’ers from around the world.

Lately the Banks have been threatened with closure due to the construction that needs to happen on the Bridge and not surprisingly this has caused a major uproar in the skating and biking community. I had read that the Banks were scheduled to close in January and figured that my venture downtown would yield only a view of fences and “no trespassing” signs. And after seeing this Mike Vallely video documenting the shuttering of one of the most historic skate spots in the country, I feared the worst.

On my way downtown I was caught up in thoughts of all the kids (like this crew below, encountered on the train ride downtown) who might not have the chance to experience the Banks—or maybe would have no idea that they even ever existed.

Surprisingly, when I got down to Frankfort and Gold the Banks hadn’t been shuttered at all. Thankfully, bikers and skaters enjoying our fake spring plied their trade on the sloped surfaces as they’ve done for years.

I asked around about what was up and no one seemed to really know, they were just happy they weren’t shut down.

While I was glad they were open too, obviously, I was still curious about what happened. I decided to get in touch with Steve Rodriguez, owner of 5boros Skateboards, who has been a huge advocate of the Banks and helped save them from closure back in 2004.

On Mar 11, 2010, at 9:44 AM, Andrew Wagner wrote:

Steve,

Had been reading about the sad demise of the Brooklyn Banks and finally made my way down there yesterday. I was, of course, stoked to see that they were still kicking. Was wondering if you might have any updates on what’s going on with them? Are they still planning on closing them? Everyone I talked to yesterday seemed to think they were going to keep them open. Any thoughts or insight would be appreciated. Trying to write a little piece for our blog today. Let me know. Thanks a lot!

- Andrew Wagner

On 3/11/10 9:59 AM, “Steve Rodriguez” wrote:

Hey Andrew- yeah, unfortunately MikeV’s statements that were posted online and in Transworld told everyone it was closing Jan 15th (which as you saw was not the case). I am in constant conversation with all parties involved (DOT, contractor, Parks department) to try and ensure a solution is found for the communities that will lose this space for up to four years (if not more). “Open public space” in NYC is the real issue here. If you know the history of the banks you know that little by little the existing public space there has been taken away and not replaced (small banks, under arches, etc…). And so you know the actual construction/painting will take six months to a year but they want to use the banks as a staging area (which as you know will probably compromise the surface…).

At this point I think (and this is in no way an official statement) that DOT and contractor are in a holding pattern until they can figure out all of the issues with accessibility, safety, and the community. As far as I see it the longer they are open the better. I know that upgrades to the bridge and construction is inevitable so my view is enjoy it while we can. Hopefully they will find another area to stage the equipment or will do the work in stages that works in favor with keeping as much of the space open as possible (or at least the area that is most used).

Thanks
SteveR

I’m with Steve. Change is inevitable so best to enjoy the Banks while they are there. So if you skate, bike, roller-blade or are just curious, get out there while you can and soak in one of the best tourist destinations in New York City.