Push For ‘Permanent Skate Park’ Continues In Montclair

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Skateboarding fans plan to gather for a rally on Saturday to push for a “permanent skate park” in Montclair.

According to advocacy group Skate Essex, the “Push for the Park” rally will start at 11:30 a.m. at Watchung Plaza in Montclair. It will end at noon at Rand Park on North Fullerton Avenue, the site of Montclair’s “temporary skatepark.”

• See related article: Long-Awaited Skate Park Opens In Montclair Amid Pandemic

Members of the skating community, local officials and parents/kids will be speaking at the rally, with music curated by Terry’s Serendipity Cafe. Learn more here.

“Montclair has taken a great first step to allow kids of all ages to enjoy skateboarding by opening up two tennis courts at Rand Park,” said Paul King, a founding board member of Skate Essex.

“The Courts, as the skaters call it, have become an oasis for our local skaters,” King said. “Now we’re pushing to establish a permanent skate park in Montclair, with everything the skaters need to learn and enjoy skateboarding safely.”

“The Courts are just the beginning,” King added.

Antonello Terrana, a senior at Montclair High School and president of the MHS Skate Club, said that local youth are excited about the possibility of seeing an expansion to the space at Rand Park.

“The kids and I want to leave a legacy where Montclair is known far-and-wide as the place to skateboard in New Jersey,” Terrana enthused.

Montclair Councilman Peter Yacobellis, another supporter of the skate park, said it’s a good thing that the township has so many kids – and parents – who support skateboarding.

“I believe that it can be yet another differentiator for Montclair, one that adds value to the community at-large and enhances quality of life,” Yacobellis said.

Councilwoman Robin Schlager said that it’s been a “pleasure” watching the existing skate park grow and thrive.

“This has been such a great way for kids to form friendships and be outdoors and be active,” Schlager said, adding that she continues to work with colleagues on the town council to find a way to help create a permanent skate park.

• See related article: Olympian Alexis Sablone Visits Montclair's New Skate Park

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