Jamaica Bay and the Rockaways

The Daily Plant : Monday, September 15, 2003

All In A Hard Day’s Work: Mullaly Skate Park Reborn

When it first opened its gates in 1988, Mullaly Skate Park in the Bronx was the first of its kind in New York City—a skate park built to provide a safe space for skate boarders, BMXers and rollerbladers to enjoy their sport. Now, 13 years later Snapple and ESKAL8 teamed up to bring back Mullaly’s former glory. On Friday, September 12, 2003, 120 volunteers from Snapple joined 30 Marines from Weapons Company 2nd Battallion 25th Marine Corps, and community members to rebuild Mullaly Skate Park in a single day. That afternoon, Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe, New York City Chief Marketing Officer Joseph Perello, President of Snapple Beverage Group and Motts Jack Belsito, ESKAL8 CEO and co-founder Darell Hammond joined to celebrate the volunteers’ work. They were accompanied by Deputy Bronx Borough President Earl Brown, Wendy the Snapple Lady, Community Board 4 Chair Ade Rasul. After the speaking program, neighborhood skaters and bikers became the first athletes to utilize the new ramps and half-pipes. The New York Yankees also donated $5,000 to match a community grant to support the park’s upkeep.

"Since its ramps first opened, Mullaly Skate Park has been a favorite place for young skaters and cyclists to practice grinds and show off their tricks," said Commissioner Benepe. "We’re pleased that Snapple and ESKAL8 are helping Mullaly Skate Park reclaim its status as a premiere athletic facility and giving New Yorkers a way to get fit while having a blast." Commissioner Benepe also noted that Snapple was first created and brewed in Brooklyn and thanked the New York-born business for returning to the city to help bring the new facilities.

"KaBOOM! has been building playgrounds for eight years and as the kids who play on our playgrounds get older and develop new interests, we want to be with them, making sure they still have safe places to be active," said Darell Hammond. "With over 13 million skateboarders in the U.S. and only 1,000 skate parks, it is clear that the number of skate parks across the country is woefully inadequate," Hammond added. "With Snapple’s help, through ESKAL8, KaBOOM! will work to lead community-built skate park construction projects, like this one, across the country." He pointed out that, coincidentally, ESKAL8 and Snapple were working to help build skate parks at the same time that Parks & Recreation expressed a desire to rebuild Mullaly Skate Park.

"This is a great example of what cities and private companies can do when they come together," said Mr. Perello, who recently took the position as the City’s Chief Marketing Officer. "This reflects how serious Snapple is about impacting life in the city and supporting recreation for our kids."

Community Board Chair Ade Rasul noted the importance of skate parks and the need to support youth activities. Holding a bottle of Snapple Iced Tea before the crowd, Mr. Rasul remarked, "As of today this is my drink of choice."

In addition to providing volunteers, Snapple has donated money from proceeds of Snap20 to purchase new ramps and jumps and to rebuild Mullaly’s signature half and quarter pipes. ESKAL8, the national skatepark program powered by KaBOOM!, coordinated the effort.

Parks & Recreation also operates two other skate parks—Millennium Skate Park in Brooklyn and Riverside Skate Park in Manhattan. Plans for additional skate parks are also underway, including a brand new facility at Rockaway Beach. Mullaly Skate Park is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"Rome was not built in a day."

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

(1547–1616)

Know Before You Go

Paerdegat Basin Park