By EMILY WEBB
For many local skaters like Vinny, a strong sense of freedom accompanies the thrill of skateboarding, and he and other fellow skaters at the skate park in Nickerson Beach last Friday said it was the best place on Long Island to experience this powerful feeling.
The 160-by-100-foot skate park features seven ramps ranging in heights from two to four feet, and two railings for skateboarders and is located in the beach’s “Fun Zone,” which includes two basketball courts, two tennis courts, a playground and a baseball field.
“[The park has] a good area for flatland, a couple good rails and a really nice foam box,” said Nickerson Beach staff member and avid skateboarder Jesse, 18, of Merrick. Due to its durable, multifaceted design, the five-year-old skate park welcomes skaters of every kind and is quickly gaining popularity.
Skateboards, roller blades, bikes and scooters have all made appearances within the park, with their owners either blithely rolling around in the fenced-in area or furiously shredding on half-pipes.
Also, local patrons frequently attend the skate park in order to escape the firm upper hand of the law. Nick Debrasio, 17, of Long Beach, who has skated at Nickerson Beach for three years, said that he would get in trouble with police if he were caught skating around his house or on the streets. The Nickerson Beach skate park acts as a safe haven for neighborhood skaters for free.
Unlike many of the other skate parks on Long Island, the Nickerson Beach staff does not charge admission for children who wish to use the facility, but strongly advises the use of helmets to ensure the safety and well being of the skaters.
One can see skaters of all ages there performing standard tricks such as the kick flip and the forward flip, all with satisfactory smiles. Whether beginners or experts, every type of skater takes advantage of the park’s multiple features throughout the summer.
For instance, the counselors and young campers of Nickerson Beach’s Oasis Summer Day Camp visit the park every day during recess, as well as the many other Fun Zone attractions, and skate side-by-side on their skateboards and scooters. With the help of their counselors and the assorted resources found in the skate park, the 8- to 10-year-old campers can learn the basics of skating, such as how to stand and ride around on a board, and will develop their skills so they can do more advanced tricks alongside the older, more experienced skaters as the summer progresses.
One camper, Charles, 9, of Oceanside, likes to ride his scooter down the ramps with the older skaters because they can teach him how to ride better.
Skating instructor Frank Nicato, 22, of Hicksville, said he loves to teach kids at the camp. “They are so young and they want to do everything,” he said, “and we're not afraid to try anything.”
Comments about this story? JKellard@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.
