Showing posts with label TF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TF. Show all posts

Friday, August 14, 2026

Holy Ride meets its maker in Tompkins Square Park

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 
Written by EVG 

Holy Ride's time among us lasted all of one day. 

On Wednesday, a group of skaters installed the three-ramp creation featuring Jesus on a skateboard at the Tompkins Square Park TF. 

By yesterday, NYC Parks had arrived and told the group that Holy Ride, the heavenly successor to Hell Ride, had to come down. 

But this wasn't quite the end. The skaters repurposed the panels to create a pyramid in the center of the TF. (Jesus was a carpenter, after all.)
Franco The Thirteenth, the artist behind Holy Ride — as well as its predecessor, Hell Ride — was confident about the pyramid's future. 

"Parks can't do anything about the pyramid," he said. "It's here to stay."
Meanwhile, a fundraiser titled "Hell Ride III" continues to help support whatever comes next. 

So Holy Ride may be gone, but apparently there will be a resurrection...

Thursday, August 13, 2026

A come-to-Jesus moment on the TF at Tompkins Square Park

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 
Written by EVG 

Updated: City to Holy Ride: Thou Shalt Not Skate. Holy Ride is gone, but it has been resurrected elsewhere. Read on.

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A month after Hell Ride departed the Tompkins Square Park TF, its successor has arrived from a higher authority. 

Last month, the Hell Ride ramp disappeared from the Tompkins Square Park skateboard area after a relatively brief run. We were told that the Sunday field hockey players had lodged a complaint about the installation. 

At the time, an EVG reader suggested that perhaps the ramp would have been OK without the "Hell." 

And so yesterday, a group of skaters unveiled something bigger: Holy Ride.
The new three-ramp installation features Jesus, arms outstretched, riding a skateboard, flanked by the words "Holy" and "Ride."
Franco The Thirteenth created the artwork and, we're told, was also the artist behind Hell Ride.
The installation on this hot August afternoon required plenty of 2x4s, drill bits, teamwork and some impressive acrobatics as the crew maneuvered the oversized pieces into place.
A local artist even stopped by to sketch the proceedings.
The new addition was already getting plenty of attention — and reviews — before the work was finished. 

"These guys have no respect for Christ," one resident told us. 

Another observer had a different take: He thought Jesus would approve. 

Meanwhile, one woman had a more practical question: Why doesn't Jesus have a neck? 

We don't have an answer for that one. 

By late afternoon, Holy Ride was in place, and skaters were already putting it to use.
How long Holy Ride remains with us is in the hands of a higher power.

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

RIP Hell Ride, now in skateboard heaven

EVG reader Elliot noted that the Parks Department trashed the newly double-wide Hell Ride in the multipurpose courts/TF in Tompkins early this morning. 

We thank you for your service... (photos from Saturday by Stacie Joy)...

Sunday, July 12, 2026

At Jenkem Magazine's skate block party in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Stacie Joy

Skateboarding and culture magazine Jenkem took over the Tompkins Square Park multipurpose courts yesterday afternoon with a pop-up skate jam/block party featuring new obstacles, music and plenty of spectators. 

The free event drew a steady crowd of skaters and onlookers ... some there to land tricks, others simply to hang out on a summer afternoon. 

Here are a few scenes from the session...
... and now the Hell Ride section...

Thursday, July 9, 2026

Thursday's parting shot

An extension in the works for Hell Ride on the multipurpose courts/TF in Tompkins Square Park...

Previously on EV Grieve

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Taking on Hell Ride

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Like so many things in Tompkins Square Park, it simply appeared. 

Sometime in late spring, someone hauled in a homemade quarter pipe, painted it "Hell Ride," and left it for anyone willing to take it on. 

Since then, the ramp has become a gathering spot — and a test of skill — for skaters using the multipurpose courts. 

I recently spent some time with the skaters tackling Hell Ride...
For more skateboarding action... on Saturday, Jenkem Magazine is hosting a block party here during the afternoon...