Get on board for lots of outdoor fun! There’s a new skateboard park in Montclair, New Jersey, that kids of all ages and abilities will love.
Skate Essex, a non-profit that promotes the benefits of skateboarding, officially opened Candy Courts during a ribbon cutting on March 26 in Montclair’s Rand Park, which is approximately 45 minutes from Staten Island. The new destination has everything young skaters will love in a skateboard park, including seven cool skate-able structures.
On an interesting side note, 2021 USA Olympic skateboarder and seven-time X Games Medalist Alexis Sablone designed the colorful structures. Sablone, an MIT and Barnard graduate, designed the sculptures to be functional pieces of art for skaters of various abilities.
About Candy Courts Skatepark in New Jersey
Candy Courts represents phase two of a plan to create safe spaces for local skaters, with phase one being the designation of the Rand Park tennis courts for skateboarding. Skate Essex and Sablone worked with the community and organizations including Tony Hawk’s The Skatepark Project to make it all happen.
During the ribbon cutting, Paul King of Skate Essex spoke about the meaning of the park for the community and the innovation behind the skateable art.
“The Courts Skatepark has been a long time coming for Montclair,” King said. “But Candy Courts, with its skateable artwork, is not just another skatepark. With the vision of Alexis Sablone and the support of The Skatepark Project and 5th Pocket Skateparks, as well as the support from the town, families and local skaters, Montclair is now the home of one of the most unique skateparks in the country.”
Benjamin Anderson Bashein, executive director of the Skatepark Project, spoke about the beauty of skateboarding and how it brings people together.
“We’re proud to partner with Skate Essex and TSP Ambassador Alexis Sablone to help bring more accessible outdoor recreation opportunities to the Montclair community,” Bashein said. “We’re looking forward to seeing the creative expressions of local skaters with this unique park, both as a skate space and an inspiration for other parks like it. Skateboarding is a beautiful way to bring people together and form close bonds within a community, and we’re excited to watch the sport grow in Montclair and Essex County.”
The Skatepark Project’s grant programs have awarded over $11 million to help fund nearly 700 public skateparks in all 50 states.
Also check out these skateparks in Staten Island!
What You Need to Know About Visiting Candy Courts Skatepark in New Jersey
Where is Candy Courts located?
The new Candy Courts Skatepark is located at 155 North Fullerton Ave. at Rand Park in Montclair, NJ.
How far is the park from Staten Island?
The park is approximately 45 minutes from Staten Island.
When is the park open?
Candy Courts is open daily, from 9am to 8pm.
What else is there to do in Montclair, NJ?
There is a lot to enjoy in Montclair if you’re looking to spend the day in the area. The Van Vleck House & Gardens is a great place to visit. You can also stop by the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center, located on the campus of Montclair State University. There are also lots of restaurants to check out!
For more information, visit skateessex.org or follow the organization on Facebook or Instagram.
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