“I really think the Banks are the most historic skateboard spot in the world.” – Steve RodriguezAlong the southeast edge of Manhattan, and tucked underneath the Brooklyn Bridge’s on and off ramps, sits the region referred to as Brooklyn Bridge Banks, or simply, the Brooklyn Banks. Banks spend time at the foundation or “anchorage” of the Brooklyn Bridge near Police Plaza, at Pearl and Frankfort Streets. For anybody who was raised skating around the US East Coast pre-1980, to have the opportunity Ugg Boots Sale to even see the Brooklyn Banks is heaven on earth. For anybody who emerged skating since the late 80s and early 90s, the Banks happen to be a destination, physically and figuratively for skaters worldwide. They now occupy a legendary and symbolic devote skateboard culture and have been featured in countless photographs, videos and commercials.Banks became legendary not due to any particular trick, event, or video; although a lot of momentous tricks and events have happened there, the spot has been around featured in numerous videos, and it has been a proving ground for many skaters. Banks became legendary by virtue of the fortuitous connection between skateboarding and the man-made environment and circumstances in the skateboarding culture that made that connection possible.The Zen of the BanksThe site existed; the skaters existed. The website wasn’t created for the skaters but its design is almost just too perfect to possess been unintentional; that’s part of the magic. At some point in time, the congruity just gelled and it happened the first skaters rolled up and shredded the brick from the Banks’ wave-like embankments. They discovered the ledges, the stairs, the benches, the pillars, the ambience, the simultaneous multi-sensory assault and stillness. That first session in the Banks might even constitute the large bang moment for skateboarding around the East Coast and also the Banks was a site, a destination, a “spot” to skate and a mecca that attracted others to grace its bricks because of its mystique.Features of the BanksThe site, an expanse of the brick plaza around three city blocks long, has many skateable features that were native to the location along with other features that were brought there by skaters and BMX riders. The plaza, built in the late 1960s includes a completely harmonious set-up: the arrangement of features and the orientation of the space; the alignment of the features or obstacles; and also the location. Most of the generic skate parks sometimes seem interchangeable and with no sense of place. The Banks have presence as a place.The seclusion from the site accentuates its clandestine quality, which makes it a sheltered place by having an almost subterranean feel. Lying above the activity of Manhattan’s subway, and below one of the most recognized structures in america – the long-lasting Brooklyn Bridge– banks are the skate life equivalent of the amount of Earthly Paradise in Dante’s Pergatorio. Pure bliss due to the perfection but still rough enough around the edges and just sketchy enough that you might not need to be in the room long. and have bragging rights that you simply have there been whatsoever.Each era from the Banks has had its skaters and also the good reputation for the Banks is really a microcosm of the history of skate culture in general and NYC skate specifically. Within the 1980s there were Papo, Eli Gresner, Bruno Musso, Rodney Smith, Chris Pastras, Dave Hacket, Ian Frahm, and Keith Hufnagel. In the 1990s, Billy Waldman, Jon Carter, Coco Santaigo, FELIX, and also the legendary Harold Hunter, plus many, a lot more were holding it down in the Banks.I first visited the banks in ’91, while living in NYC. It was an overwhelming experience. But much more, to simply be at a spot with people who just plain shredded, was impressive along with a bit intimidating. The riding was fresh and anyone could tell the entire vibe was exciting as hell. From the a homeless population in the Banks that enhanced its chill, yet slightly dystopian atmosphere.Steve Rodriguez Any discussion of the Brooklyn Banks must mention and provide props to Steve Rodriguez, of NYC skate life, 5Boro Skateboards, and the Harold Hunter Foundation. He has dedicated his life to helping skaters and represents skateboarders in advocacy, Cheap Ugg Boots policy, and design issues within the city, interfacing with the bureaucracies from the Parks Department and Department of transportation. His life has been entwined using the Banks since he was first skating. Rodriguez has made certain the city recognizes that the Banks along with other skate sites (specially the Lower East Side Skatepark, too) are priorities for the skateboarding culture as well as for the caliber of life within the city.In 2001, after 9/11, banks were commonly used as an overflow parking lot for municipal vehicles. And in 2001 after the city closed from the smaller part of the Banks and planted grass, Rodriguez worked to get that part reopened. Rodriguez’ work was instrumental to get the park reopened in 2004 following a fence was put all around it, and also the city attempted to result in the site right into a green park. In 2005, the Banks were classified a “legal” skate place, mainly due to Rodriguez’ advocacy.The End of an Era?The town is currently using the Brooklyn Banks for trucks and construction equipment throughout the Brooklyn Bridge reconstruction, which began in June 2010 and can last until 2014. Rodriguez summarized the gravity from the situation, “It’s like saying, ‘We’re likely to take away the Statue of Liberty, why is that bad?’” The truth is one of the bridge ramps being replaced is held up by the Banks, which will mean they will be destroyed. Naturally the hope is the fact that when the supports for that bridge project are reconstructed, the Banks will have skateable terrain and accessibility.Whether the Banks will be opened back up to skaters and also be skateable once the construction is over is not clear. Perhaps once the Banks re-open, (assuming that the site will) it may be possible to extend the National Historic Landmark designation from the Brooklyn Bridge to the banks.At least we know this with certainty: between now and 2014, there won’t be a Gap or Starbucks cropping up in the Ugg Boots Sale UK Banks in the near future. Perhaps trek over to Corona Park to skate the replica of the Banks’ nine-stair, or perhaps in the meantime, enjoy some choice morsels of Brooklyn Banks videos. Pop the popcorn and grab the tissues.Videos Featuring Brooklyn BanksThe Banks first appeared in a skate video later on Primitive ( Powell-Peralta , 1985) with Steve Caballero, Lance Mountain, and Christian Hosoi.Full Power Trip (Gullwing, 1988) footage of classic NYC skate spots including the Brooklyn BanksClassic footage from 1989Apple Juice (1990) a classic NYC skate short documentaryUnderworld Element –Skypager (1993) here’s part featuring Harold Hunter, legend and denizen from the Banks and NYC skateJosh Kalis’ part within the Sixth Sense ( Transworld, 1998)Harold Hunter’s part in Triple C Productions’ Vicious Cycle (2005)Zoo York – State of Mind (2009) here’s Brandon Westgate’s partClassic footage from 1993 Gathering at the Banks, with a convergence of pros and ams from across the USShort documentary , Mike V. and the Brooklyn Banks with history about the Banks and footage (2009)