Construction has started on a new outdoor skate park for skateboarders, at Cooper River Park in Cherry Hill. Today, the Groundbreaking Ceremony was held for the project which is being developed by Camden County, paid for by both County and State funding.
And just as impressive as the park design is that this caps a 13 year “grassroots effort” to have the park built! Started by a then eight year old Lyle Rosenthall, with the help of his Mother Marla they guided the effort to form a committee, work with elected officials… and are now seeing the skate park being built!
The skateboard park location is on Park Boulevard close to Cuthbert Boulevard… In an area next to where Camden County sets up the Winterfest Ice Skating Rink. Directly across the street is the parking lot for the DoubleTree hotel.
It’s actually a really nice location for the skate park, bordered by trees on each side, and the Cooper River along the rear of the property. The skate park will be positioned closer to the sidewalk taking up about half of the depth of the property. The remaining space in the rear towards the river will be lawn.
Architect renderings provided by Camden County show a multifaceted skateboarding experience designed in a triangular pattern, with different skating challenges interspersed throughout.
Featured in the skate park are a variety of grind rails, raised concrete bench style rails, and two ramps separate ramps for 180-style ramp maneuvers.
Also incorporated into the design is a curved pump track section, which is a series of wave-like hills for skaters to “pump” up and down on as they ride through.
It even looks like there’s a small airborne ramp which skaters will be able to jump across!
I was on hand today for the groundbreaking ceremony which featured several elected officials as well as the Rosenthall Family, who initially saw the need for a community skate park in Cherry Hill and Camden County area.
I was a few minutes late and arrived just as a now 21-year old Lyle was speaking about the need for the project, what it means to the local skating community, as well as thanking those for supporting the project. It was an excellent speech that I wish I had recorded!
Last year the upcoming skate park and Lyle’s mother Marla were featured at “The Skate Park Project” Social channels, where they shared these words from Marla:
I am thankful to the Camden County and the parks department and my amazing committee and my son who I did this for. After 12 years of work we’re getting a Camden County skate park. My son started this when he was eight and now he’s almost 20. It’s been a long time. I loved working with him and I’m thrilled that I’ve been able to make his dream a reality. It’s amazing what you can get done when you work with good people. Skateboarders are great people. Moms Rule!
Marla Rosenthall – quoted at theskateparkproject (The Skatepark Project Facebook)
This project’s construction is sponsored by Camden County with the costs of about $900,000 being funded by both County and State funding. Additionally, in July 2023, Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald presented the Parks Department with a check for $87,000 to go towards the construction of the skate park.
“This skate park has been a collaborative effort and has been crafted with the resident’s and local skateboarders’ input,” said Commissioner Jeffrey Nash, liaison to the Camden County Parks Department. “We know that this will be a heavily utilized space and will finally deliver an element that has been missing from our parks system for the skateboarding community. We are thrilled that this project has finally come to fruition, and we can’t wait to welcome skateboarders to the park once it is completed.”
42Freeway will be back for the Grand Opening in a few months. Would you believe that not only am I a journalist… yeah, I got some moves on the skateboard. Ha! I may have to wear a suit of armor though.
Links and Location
Camden County Skatepark at Cooper River Park
562 Park Boulevard (behind the Double Tree Hotel)
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002