Nearby Address: 355-365 Pearl St, New York, NY 10038, United States
The Brooklyn Banks, built in 1972 beneath the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge, is one of the most iconic skateboarding spots in New York City. Designed by M. Paul Friedberg as part of the 1 Police Plaza project, the Banks were never meant to be a skate spot—but by the mid-1980s, skaters had transformed its steep red brick banks, granite ledges, and stair sets into a downtown sanctuary. Known as “the Mecca of New York skateboarding,” the Banks became a proving ground for generations of skaters, attracting both locals and legends like Harold Hunter, Mike Vallely, and Keenan Milton.
Although the Banks were closed in 2010 for bridge renovations, the skate community never gave up on bringing them back. Through the efforts of advocates like Steve Rodriguez (5boro), and support from Tony Hawk’s The Skatepark Project, the city reopened part of the area in 2023. On June 5, 2025, the Big Banks officially reopened, marking a new chapter in skateboarding history.