Prospect Heights Residents Battle Plan for Brooklyn Skate Garden

Neighbors and skaters clash over proposal to build skate park on grassy hill in Mount Prospect Park

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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A plan to build the Brooklyn Skate Garden on a grassy hill in Mount Prospect Park in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn has sparked a debate between neighbors who want to preserve the open space and skaters who support creating a new public skate destination. Opponents argue the project would replace lawn with pavement, while supporters highlight plans for updated landscaping and skate amenities. The discussion has led to petitions, calls for oversight, and upcoming public meetings to discuss the proposal's design and impact on the park.

Why it matters

This dispute highlights the ongoing tension between preserving green spaces and developing new public amenities in dense urban neighborhoods. The outcome could set a precedent for how the city balances competing community interests when planning changes to local parks.

The details

The proposed Brooklyn Skate Garden would occupy tens of thousands of square feet on a hill in Mount Prospect Park, with plans for a 40,000-square-foot core skate area. City officials say the paved elements would account for under 12% of the park's 340,000-square-foot footprint, leaving room for paths and plantings. Supporters, led by the Pablo Ramirez Foundation and The Skatepark Project, describe it as a hybrid space combining skate features with new trees, native plantings, seating, and programming. Opponents, organized as Friends of Mount Prospect Park, argue the hill is already used for community gatherings and should not be converted into a skate destination.

  • In winter 2023, opponents delivered a letter to the city Comptroller requesting an investigation into the project's sponsorship terms and potential liability.
  • Community board hearings are scheduled for spring 2023 to discuss the proposal's design.
  • If approvals proceed on schedule, project partners hope to begin construction in 2027 and complete the skate garden in 2028.

The players

Friends of Mount Prospect Park

A local group formed in response to the skate garden plan, arguing the grassy hill should be preserved for community use rather than converted into a skate destination.

Pablo Ramirez Foundation

A partner organization leading the effort to develop the Brooklyn Skate Garden, describing it as a hybrid space combining skate features with new landscaping and programming.

The Skatepark Project

A partner organization working with the Pablo Ramirez Foundation on the Brooklyn Skate Garden proposal.

Mark Levine

The New York City Comptroller, who received a letter from opponents requesting an investigation into the project's sponsorship and liability.

Zohran Mamdani

The Mayor of New York City, whose office said the city plans to share a design for the skate park with the community this spring.

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What they’re saying

“The hill between the Brooklyn Central Library and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is already used for picnics, birthday parties, and other small gatherings and should not be converted into a skate destination.”

— Helen Koh, Member, Friends of Mount Prospect Park (CBS News New York)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, Grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

Community board hearings are scheduled for this spring to discuss the proposal's design, and a spokesperson for the Mayor's office said the city plans to share a world-class design for the skate park with the community at that time.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing the preservation of urban green spaces with the development of new public amenities to serve diverse community needs. The outcome of this debate could set an important precedent for how the city approaches similar tradeoffs in the future.