Experts indicate serious safety problems using Mount Prospect Park for skateboarding
Published materials from experts and experienced skateboarders highlight the dangers posed by siting a skate complex on Mount Prospect Park. While it’s safe as a historic park, the site’s physical characteristics are dangerous for crowds of skateboarders. Expert guidance indicates the Mount Prospect Park construction plan is a set-up for harm and liability. Friends of Mount Prospect Park has to-date received no answers to specific points and questions repeatedly posed about the dangers. Here are a few examples:
SIGHTLINE PROBLEMS, FORESEEABLE POLICING ISSUES
Professional guidelines emphasize the importance of clear sightlines from the street and through the planned skate complex for a healthy site. But these sightlines do not exist in Mount Prospect Park, an elevated park built almost a century ago on top of a historic Brooklyn reservoir.
Some notes from pro design guidelines:
“Skateparks should be located near the street rather than tucked away in the back of a larger park area. Hidden locations attract elements other than skateboarders, and can lead to problems the skaters don’t create but may be blamed for.” (https://skatepark.org/faq/)
Professional skate facility design guidelines warn that there must be “a clear line of sight” through the facility from a nearby street to address issues of “antisocial behavior” and “significant delinquency.” (Screenshots from professional manual included below.)
A site blocked from view is – as the manual emphasizes in all-caps – "INCORRECT.” Mount Prospect Park is up a hill and screened by trees. The park is, essentially, an elevated green oval surrounded by a ring of trees. The site’s inherent characteristics contradict skate facility best practices for public safety. Skateboard facility designers promote a survey of police they claim to have conducted concluded the sightline issue is “critical,” and that police “cited the location as playing a major role in whether or not they experienced significant delinquency issues.” Physical characteristics of Mount Prospect Park mean that skate construction will foreseeably trigger preventable encounters with law enforcement.
Additionally, numerous respected professional studies show the presence of urban green space correlates to better physical and mental health — including reduced aggression and urban violence.
Screenshots from professional design guidelines, photo showing angle from street level up to Mount Prospect Park.
RAMP DOWN FROM MOUNT PROSPECT PARK INVITES SKATERS TO “HILL-BOMB”
Skateboarders “hill-bombing” on the sloped, crowded ramp to the park is a serious danger emphasized by multiple expert skaters. The ramp is used all day by people pushing strollers, people walking pets, elderly and frail people, small children accessing the playground, and people who use mobility aids. It empties into the often-crowded Brooklyn Botanic Garden sidewalk entrance, and then into busy Eastern Parkway traffic. In addition to requesting the specific plan showing how the Mount Prospect Park ramp could possibly be safely addressed, given the park’s unusual landscape architecture, community members have asked to see examples of where such a site has been selected and safely handled elsewhere. These questions have been outstanding and unanswered for more than a year.
Typical community use of the ramp access to Mount Prospect Park (first photo).
Brooklyn Botanic Garden entrance line at bottom of ramp (second photo).
DANGEROUSLY TEMPTING GRANITE STAIRS LEAD DOWN FROM THE PARK
Professionals warn that no one should try to skate the granite stairs or stair rails down from Mount Prospect Park. The stairs empty onto a crowded sidewalk next to the Central Library’s children’s wing — and then onto busy Eastern Parkway. To quote the skate facility design expert who looked at the stairs, wiping out on the iron-pointed fence could cause “organ-level impalement.”
Many parents and other community members doubt that all skaters will have the judgment to stay away from the stairs and railings. It was easy to find discussion online where skaters deemed the stairs "juicy.”
DRAWING SKATEBOARDERS INTO EASTERN PARKWAY’S MULTI-LANE TRAFFIC
The only two access points to Mount Prospect Park (the ramp and the stairs) empty onto an often-bustling sidewalk and busy, multi-laned Eastern Parkway. Experienced skateboarders have flagged the danger of intentionally drawing more skateboarders onto Eastern Parkway. Tragically, the San Francisco professional skater whose name would be emblazoned on the planned skateboard facility was killed while skating in San Francisco street traffic.
SKATERS CALL ACORNS AND OTHER NATURAL PARK DEBRIS ‘STOP ROCKS’ AND ‘DANGER PEBBLES’
To skate safely, skaters need clean, smooth surfaces – without hazards like twigs or gravel or acorns that they refer to as “stop rocks” or “danger pebbles.” Natural park debris like twigs, gravel and the thousands of acorns that drop from Mount Prospect Park’s historic oak trees scatters all day long, posing constant skating hazards.
Quote from professional facility design manual: “Avoid shedding trees that can dangerously disrupt skate space.”
Fallen acorns in Mount Prospect Park (photo); screenshot of warning from professional design manual (image)
DOGS AND SKATEBOARDS DON’T MIX WELL
Unfortunately, skateboards trigger strong, instinctive reactions for many dogs, ranging from fear to aggression.
Mount Prospect Park is a favorite locale for families with pets. Throughout the day, dog-lovers stroll into, through, and out of the park with their canine companions. The park is relatively small and enclosed, which helps pet-owners safely monitor their dogs during off-leash hours. This construction plan would predictably lead to run-ins for skateboarders and dogs, even when leashed — turning what should be enjoyable recreation and exercise into stressful and potentially dangerous encounters. Here are some key points:
Sensory Overload
🐾 Sound Sensitivity
The rumble and clack of skateboard wheels on pavement can be startling to dogs, triggering a fear response.
🐾 Vibrations
Dogs have heightened sensitivity to ground vibrations, which can make the movement of skateboards unsettling.
Visual Stimuli
🐾 Unfamiliar Movement
The rapid and erratic motion of skateboards may appear threatening or confusing to dogs.
Protective Instincts
🐾 Guarding Behavior
Some dogs may perceive skateboards as a threat to themselves or their owners, prompting a protective response.
Common Behavioral Responses
🐾 Vocalizations
Barking, growling, or whining when a skateboard is nearby.
🐾 Stress Indicators
Panting, drooling, or exhibiting a tucked tail.
🐾 Physical Reactions
Lunging, chasing, or attempting to bite.