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: 

• Taking on Hell Ride

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...

 

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A new edge in Tompkins Square Park

Photos Saturday by Stacie Joy 

Skateboarders in Tompkins Square Park got a pleasant surprise Saturday morning. 

Early that day, a crew delivered a 15-inch-high granite ledge to the multipurpose courts/TF. (The ledge sits outside the main field and walking lanes, so it won’t need to be moved for field hockey leagues.) 

As Quartersnacks first noted, this arrival was a collaboration among the Parks Department, Nike SB, The Skatepark Project and California Skateparks.

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Given that this thing weighs a few thousand pounds, it will likely stick around the TF for awhile. (Quartersnacks deemed a sliver of triangular granite, nicknamed The Tombstone, as the most popular TF obstacle of the 2010s.) 

On Saturday morning, we spotted skaters lining up to test out the ledge … and start wearing down the edges.

As of yesterday, the Ledge remained the main draw here... and it was already showing a little wear...

Petition seeks to rename Tompkins Square Park skate area for Harold Hunter

There's an effort underway to rename the skate area at Tompkins Square Park in honor of the late Harold Hunter. 

The Skatepark Project, which Tony Hawk founded, and the Harold Hunter Foundation have launched a petition to rename the multi-use/skate section of the park Harold Hunter Park. 

Hunter — a charismatic and influential skateboarder and actor — was born and raised at Campos Plaza on 13th Street. He died in 2006 at age 31. 

Tompkins Square Park was one of Hunter's favorite places to skate, and in the 1990s, he helped shape it into a creative hub where skaters, artists, and musicians crossed paths. That era helped cement the park's global reputation as a destination for skate culture. 

The proposal was scheduled to be heard tomorrow by Community Board 3's Parks, Recreation, Waterfront & Resiliency Committee, but the item was withdrawn and is expected to return at a later date. 

You can read more and view the petition here.

 

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Previously on EV Grieve: 

• At the Harold Hunter Skate Jam in Tompkins Square Park

Endless summer in Tompkins Square Park on the brink of fall

Photos yesterday by Stacie Joy 

It's skating as usual on the recenly painted multipurpose courts in Tompkins Square Park ... now with a discarded couch...

As the Times noted: "It's still summer today, but fall arrives tomorrow. Take a minute to pause on the threshold."

Saturday's opening shot

Someone welcomed the freshly painted multipurpose courts/TF last night in Tompkins Square Park ... previously.

The multipurpose courts/TF reopen in Tompkins Square Park in living color

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

The multipurpose courts/TF reopened yesterday along 10th Street and Avenue A after a 10-plus-day closure so workers could repaint the surface. (More background is available here and here.) 

The Parks Department added color to the asphalt, including a walking track on the perimeter and markings for the basketball hoops at the eastern end. And the majority of the asphalt is painted green (no markings for kickball, though!).

The skaters also returned to this seminal, decades-long skate spot, and the various ramps and rails that were here previously are also back.

And the mood? "Elevated chill."

Inside the paint: A look at the color-coded multipurpose courts in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Stacie Joy (top one via EVG) 

Updated 6 p.m. Still closed.

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Workers were racing to wrap up painting the multipurpose courts/TF in Tompkins Square Park last evening. 

One of the workers said they thought they'd be ready to unveil today, though it could have to wait until tomorrow. 

This space along Avenue A and 10th Street has been closed for repainting since Aug. 26. After the resurfacing last fall, the Parks Department added color to the asphalt, including a walking track on the perimeter and markings for the basketball hoops...

As previously noted, we'll see how everyone co-exists in this new configuration. The court has been a skating hotspot for decades.

A repainted multipurpose court comes into view in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Stacie Joy 

The multi-purpose courts/TF will reopen on Tuesday... after workers complete repainting the surface of the space along Avenue A and 10th Street. 

The crew will apparently be working on Labor Day to get this done.

 Here's how it's looking now...

The walking track around the perimeter seems to be taking shape. (Does anyone with an aerial view of the courts along 10th Street have any photos to share?)

The asphalt was just getting broken in again after renovations from Oct. 16 to Dec. 1. In addition to new asphalt, Parks added benches, fountains and three basketball backstops. 

We'll see how everyone co-exists in this new configuration. The court has been a skating hotspot for decades. 

So far, "suburban" is the word we're hearing about the new look.

As Quartersnacks noted in June 2023 about the repainted surface: "It will be a shock to the system in terms of the park's Feng Shui, but skateboarders have adjusted to way worse changes."

Painting it black on the TF in Tompkins Square Park

Here's a look at the multi-purpose courts (aka TF) in Tompkins Square Park after Day 2 of painting...

There are barrels of Acrylic Resurfacer 4200 around the perimeter as well...

This space along Avenue A and 10th Street has been a skating hotspot for decades and will reopen on Tuesday. The surface is looking a little slick at the moment. The asphalt was just getting broken in again after renovations from Oct. 16 to Dec. 1. Aside from new asphalt, Parks added benches, fountains and three basketball backstops.

The courts reopened without any markings — save for around the basketball area. 

As you may recall, the original reconstruction diagrams included a walking track marked by blue paint and painted lines for kickball. It's still unclear if the Parks Department will add those in the days ahead.

The space hadn't been redone since the early 1990s. And speaking of 1990...

 

The multipurpose courts in Tompkins Square Park are closed for painting

The multipurpose courts in Tompkins Square Park are closed starting today... through next Tuesday, Sept. 3. 

Posted signage notes this is to accommodate — gulp — painting... (and H/T to @tf_report!)

This area along Avenue A and 10th Street was closed from Oct. 16 to Dec. 1 for renovations, which included new asphalt and amenities, including a high-low fountain that kids and adults can use simultaneously, three new basketball backstops, and benches.

The courts reopened without any markings — save for around the basketball area. 

As you may recall, the original reconstruction diagrams included a walking track marked by blue paint and painted lines for kickball.

We learned about all this over the weekend, and there wasn't anyone available at Parks HQ to ask. 

So, with this painting, we may see the arrival of a marked walking path and kickball court, something that likely couldn't have been added during the more unpredictable winter weather months. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Big changes are coming to the iconic skate spot in Tompkins Square Park

Endless Summer (aka Friday's Parting Shot)

Photo by Stacie Joy 

Early evening from Tompkins Square Park...

At the Harold Hunter Skate Jam in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Hundreds of skateboarders descended up the TF in Tompkins Square Park for the latest Harold Hunter Skate Jam. 

Hunter, a charismatic local skateboarder born and raised at Campos Plaza on 13th Street, died in 2006 at age 31. 

The Harold Hunter Foundation (HHF) is an NYC nonprofit that provides support, opportunity and advocacy for skateboarders. 

The Jam also marked a collab drop for the DKG and the HHF Street Soldier Deck. 

Here are some scenes from Tompkins...