Change.org City Island skate park petition gets traction
Parks Department staff,
which would help “prevent
the negative behavior skate
parks are notoriously stereotyped
with,” according to the
“It is hard to believe that
the largest public park in
NYC does not have a single
space for skateboarders and
BMX riders alike to practice
and train their skillsets,”
states the petition.
Ideally, they would like
to see the construction of an
8,000 to 10,000 square foot
skate park, said Blake.
Blake said that if the area
the group has in mind wasn’t
feasible, they would be willing
to work with NYC Parks
Department to fi nd a suitable
location.
Members of the group have
spoken to Councilman Mark
Gjonaj, who whole-heartedly
supports their efforts.
“This group is enthusiastic
and they want to be a part
of something,” said Gjonaj,
who said he suggested the online
petition to spark energy
and support for the plan after
meeting skate park supporters.
Family and friends of Drew Cottam (pictured), who passed away in a car
accident at the age of 18, have started a petition in his memory calling
attention to what they believe is a need for a skate park in Pelham Bay
Park that would allow skateboarders, scooter riders and BMX enthusiasts
chances to hone their skills. Photo courtesy of the Cottam family
The councilman said that
he would work at the City
Council to help design a skate
park to meet their needs and
to create a facility where
competitions could occur.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J BTR ANUARY 18-24, 2019 3
BY PATRICK ROCCHIO
A group of youth has
started a petition calling for
the creation of a skate park
in the borough’s and city’s
largest park.
A Change.org petition
calling for the creation of a
skate park for skateboarders
and BMX bicycle riders
at Orchard Beach in Pelham
Bay Park has gathered over
2,000 signatures in its fi rst
fi ve days.
The effort, named in memory
of avid skateboarder and
BMX bicyclist Drew Cottam, a
City Island youth who passed
away in a car accident on
the Hutchinson River Parkway
on September 30, 2018,
is gaining momentum as a
group of about a dozen young
people, primarily from City
Island, stepped up advocacy
for a concrete skate park at
a barren stretch of blacktop
near Orchard Beach’s Section
4.
Cottam’s two brothers,
Austin Cottam and Blake
Cottam, said that the memory
of their brother sparked
the petition effort, which can
be found at Change.org un-
der ‘Drew P. Cottam Memorial
Skate Park in Orchard
Beach.’
It aims to serve youth on
City Island and those nearby
who don’t have a place close
by to hone their skateboarding
skills, BMX riding and
other action sports maneuvers,
said Austin Cottam.
“For years we wanted a
skate park on City Island because
it would be something
good for kids in the community
who are inside playing
video games and who need to
get active,” said Austin.
According to the petition,
many pre-teen City Islanders
who want to increase their
skateboarding profi ciency
cannot leave the island without
a parent’s accompaniment.
Nearby Orchard Beach
would be a perfect fi t for a
concrete skate park with
hills and ramps for action
sports practice, according
to the petition, because the
beach has parking and available
land.
Orchard Beach is also actively
policed, 24-hours-aday,
and tended to by NYC
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“It is no longer going to
be that you see these competitions
in California on the
beach, but right here in the
Bronx, at our own ‘Riviera’,”
said Gjonaj.
/Change.org
/Change.org
/Change.org