Ten important skateboard spots in Paterson, New Jersey
1. Lou Costello Memorial Park
Located in downtown Paterson, Lou Costello Memorial Park offers a versatile skateboarding experience with a blend of urban structures and open spaces. Named after the famous comedian and Paterson native, the park features wide-open areas, stairs, ledges, and railings, making it a go-to spot for skaters looking to practice tricks. The park is also known for its smooth pavement, which makes it ideal for longboarding as well as street skating.
The park’s urban design includes low ledges that skateboarders love to grind on, and the stairs provide ample opportunities for flip tricks and ollies. Being centrally located, Lou Costello Park attracts a mix of locals and visitors, contributing to a dynamic and inclusive skateboarding community. Skaters here not only test their technical skills but also engage in impromptu competitions, making it a must-visit location.
2. Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
Paterson’s iconic Great Falls area is more than just a natural wonder—it’s also a favorite spot for skateboarders. While skating directly near the falls might be challenging due to the terrain, the surrounding areas, particularly the plaza and nearby streets, are ideal for skating. The long, smooth pavement and slight inclines allow for a range of tricks, including manuals and slides.
Skating at Great Falls offers an added element of excitement due to its historic backdrop. Skaters often feel a sense of accomplishment when they land a trick while overlooking the breathtaking falls. The park attracts a broad spectrum of skaters, from beginners to more advanced riders looking for an iconic backdrop for their sessions.
3. Westside Park
Westside Park in Paterson offers one of the more classic skateboarding spots in the city. Known for its large open spaces and smooth surfaces, the park provides skaters with ample room to practice and hone their skills. The park also has benches, stairs, and ledges that skateboarders can use for tricks.
Westside Park is a popular spot for skaters looking to film videos or have photo sessions, as the surrounding greenery and natural environment provide an aesthetically pleasing contrast to the sport’s urban style. The park has a laid-back vibe, making it a welcoming spot for skateboarders of all skill levels.
4. Eastside Park
Skateboarders flock to Eastside Park for its vast landscape and versatility. This park is particularly known for its rolling hills, which skaters love to bomb down at high speeds. Additionally, the park has a variety of curbs, railings, and stairs, giving skaters numerous opportunities to practice grinds, flips, and slides.
Eastside Park’s diverse terrain makes it a great place for skaters who want to mix things up. Whether it’s cruising down a hill or hitting a stair set, the park offers a wide range of experiences. It’s also less crowded than some of the other spots, allowing skaters to have more space and time to practice without interruptions.
5. Market Street Downtown Paterson
Market Street is one of the busiest and most exciting locations for skateboarding in Paterson. The street’s urban layout is full of potential for skaters who love street-style skating. With an abundance of ledges, stairs, and rails, Market Street offers endless possibilities for tricks.
What makes Market Street particularly appealing is its connection to the larger downtown area, where skateboarders often interact with the city’s daily hustle and bustle. This adds an element of excitement, as skaters must navigate around pedestrians, cars, and other obstacles, sharpening their reflexes and technical abilities.
Skating in this location requires a certain level of skill due to the challenges posed by the environment. But for those who enjoy fast-paced urban skating, Market Street is a prime location to put their skills to the test.
6. Paterson’s Old Train Station
The abandoned Paterson Train Station, with its decaying industrial structures and vast open space, has become a haven for skateboarders. The station’s remnants include railings, platforms, and other architectural features that skaters have adapted for their sport. The rough, gritty aesthetic of the old train station adds to its underground appeal.
While the uneven surfaces and broken concrete can be challenging, skaters often enjoy the rawness of the location. This spot is ideal for skaters looking for something off the beaten path. The station is also a popular spot for filming gritty skate videos, as the decayed setting offers a unique backdrop.
However, skaters should be cautious, as the area can be dangerous due to its abandoned nature. Still, for many, the thrill of skating in such an unconventional spot outweighs the risks.
7. Montclair Avenue (Downtown Paterson)
Montclair Avenue in downtown Paterson is a bustling street with various skateable features, including stair sets, handrails, and ledges. Skateboarders often flock to this street for its smooth pavement and the challenge of skating amid urban traffic.
The architecture of the buildings on Montclair Avenue provides skateboarders with a variety of surfaces to grind, jump, and ride. The stairs and rails are particularly popular for skaters who want to practice their ollies, flips, and board slides.
Montclair Avenue also offers a distinct downtown Paterson vibe, with the backdrop of historic buildings adding to the overall experience. However, skaters should be mindful of the heavy pedestrian traffic and occasional interference from law enforcement due to its urban setting.
8. Garret Mountain Reservation
While primarily known as a hiking spot, Garret Mountain Reservation also offers an excellent spot for downhill skateboarders. The winding, smooth roads that lead up and down the mountain make for an exhilarating ride, especially for those who enjoy speed. The natural surroundings also provide a scenic backdrop for skaters.
Garret Mountain is unique in that it combines the natural beauty of Paterson with the thrill of downhill skating. While not as urban as other spots, the long, winding roads make it perfect for carving and cruising. Skaters who enjoy longboarding and downhill skating will find Garret Mountain to be one of the best spots in the area.
The only drawback is that it’s not ideal for street skating or performing technical tricks. However, for those who love the rush of speed, Garret Mountain is the place to be.
9. Sandy Hill Skate Spot
Sandy Hill is a lesser-known gem in Paterson’s skate scene. This small neighborhood park doesn’t have large skate structures but offers curbs, small stair sets, and railings that are perfect for beginners. It’s also a quieter spot, making it ideal for those who want to skate without too many distractions.
What Sandy Hill lacks in size, it makes up for in its welcoming community. Local skaters often come here to practice their tricks or just cruise around. The park’s low-key vibe and smooth surfaces are perfect for a casual skate session. Though it may not have the prestige of other spots, Sandy Hill provides a safe, friendly environment for skateboarders of all levels.
10. Wrigley Park
Wrigley Park is one of the newer spots that skaters in Paterson are starting to explore. This park has a mix of open space and urban features like benches and stair sets, making it a great place to skate. Skaters appreciate the variety of ledges and smooth pavement, ideal for technical tricks.
Wrigley Park is particularly popular with younger skaters and those new to the sport. The wide-open areas provide plenty of space to practice, and the park’s amenities, such as nearby benches and trees, make it a pleasant place to hang out. The park is still relatively undiscovered compared to other skate spots in Paterson, but it’s gaining traction as a friendly, accessible place for skateboarders to gather.
Skateboarding is tribal and most locals are welcoming, but if you're new to a spot, or just passing through, have respect for the locals. Listen. Be smart. Have fun.
A human being
Art can change the world – and everybody is an artist. Those who scribble stickmen. Those who paint chapel ceilings. Those who tattoo biceps. Those who are careful with pigment on canvas. Those who create fantasy characters. Those who paint pet portraits. Those who yarn bomb. Those who write poems on crappy old cardboard.
My art lives on the bottom of skateboard decks. It's designed for you to destroy. For you, the rider, my art may come second to the deck’s ability to perform – and that’s awesome. To me, art comes first. Always.
It’s how I think. It’s who I am. It’s what I am.
A machine
This article has been created with the help of artificial intelligence platforms ChatGPT and Bard. If there are inaccuracies or there are opportunities for improvement, please let me know.
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