Thanks to the Hudson River Park Trust, Open Roads of New York and many supporters the new skatepark at Pier 62 will now be open. We've seen many behind the scene photos of the new park (thanks Bill), but now you can actually get to skate it. Personally 10am is a little early, but definitely cruise by the park once you wake up!

--- Press Release ---
The newest section of Hudson River Park, New York’s premier waterfront recreational venue and the largest new open space to be built in Manhattan since Central Park – will officially open to the public on Monday, May 17, 2010 at 10:00 am. The two new piers and adjacent uplands join Pier 64 – opened last year – to form the largest new green space in Hudson River Park at just over nine acres. The new Chelsea construction includes a “great” lawn, a Stonefield landscape created by artist Meg Webster, a magnificent public garden designed by Lynden Miller, a new California-style skate park (already tested by Tony Hawk!), and the city’s only Hudson River animals’ carousel. The Chelsea section of the Park, including Piers 62, 63, and 64, designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, is the newest jewel in Hudson River Park’s emerald necklace of waterfront piers and promenades.

More Info: http://www.officialnewyork.com/news/Pier62_Notice.pdf

helmets or pads?

the place is rad but you gotta take your tampon out and man up if you want to skate there.  it definitely isn't a place for little kids or beginners thats for damn sure.  so if you ain't got the skills to pay the bills, keep your ass at LES, ha!         

its says helmets are required but no one is really enforcing it.  if you're a little kid and/or don't have the skills, bring your helmet.  the park is fast as hell and full of gnarly dudes going 1000 mph.   
i was told park hours is from 6am to 1am but i didn't hear it from anyone official, official so i can't say for certain.   

anyway, it was great seeing all the familiar faces today, i swear it was like a skateboarding class reunion up in there.  i saw peeps from my childhood, i'm talking  from 1980's, it brought everyone out the woodworks.       

thanks to HRTF and all involved in getting this park built for us.   
 

its such a gnar park, but sooo many ppl. its ganna be sooo hard to skate it when bmxers come.it closed around dusk today.so im not sure about the 1 am thing. what people are going to do is bring helmets and not wear them and when the rangers come around their ganna run to put them on

http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2010/05/17/paterson-attends-nyc-park-ribbon-cutt...

Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open a section of Hudson River Park at Chelsea Piers 62 and 63 in New York City, Gov. David Paterson was asked about the irony of having the event on the day the state is shutting down dozens of parks and historic sites because of the state’s budget crisis.

“This kills me to stand here in a park knowing that I have probably closed down 41 parks and 14 other cultural sites and reduced funding for seven others..."

uppereastskater wrote on 05.17.2010 at 21:33:07:


BMX'ers should NOT be in there. 
i don't want rat them out but i will, i'll put parks dept and NYPD on my speed dial.  they invade our spots, destroy property and we get left holding the bag, screw those dudes.       

as far as the helmets go, its not that big of a deal to wear one.  as a general rule, if i'm going to any skatepark, wherever it might be, even when everyone tells me i don't need one, i still bring my helmet with me.      
i hate it as much as the next guy but its not the end of the world and its certainly better than having a pad nanny posted in up there the whole time.

1am or a late closing would be tight and i don't see why it would be a problem.  theres no residential buildings in the surrounding area which means theres no one around to complain about noise or anything else.  the only issue would be that someone would have to close up but they got parks dept patrolling 24/7 so maybe? 

   

^damn those peeping toms!

yeah the place is type gnarly and fast as hell, a helmet wouldn't be a bad thing in the slightest.  its one of the first parks i've been to where i'm actually in fear of getting broke off.

I would actually like to beg people to do what it takes to keep this place free and unsupervised.

I hate helmets as much as the next person, but if it turns into a pay-to-play park, not only will you have to pay to skate, but someone will be there to make you wear a helmet anyway or call the cops to remove you.

I seriously think it's a small price to pay for such a sick park. Wear the damn helmets, and who knows, maybe a few months down the road things will mellow out, we may be able to do whatever, and the douchebags at Chelsea Piers won't call the cops.

In the meantime, just relax and wear a helmet.