History
Built in 1989, The East Side Recreation (Rec) skatepark is the oldest municipal skatepark in New York state. It shows its age and stands as a testament to a time when skating was not accepted by the mainstream. In conjunction with Jah Skate Shop, which was located at 8 Caroline street from 1988 until 1993, the skatepark used to host many demos, spawned a few professional skaters and even gave rise to the cultural underground’s most notorious skate crew –The Silly Pink Bunnies – co-founded by acclaimed artist and Saratoga native Jeremy Fish. In the mid-90’s the skatepark was an official stop for Vans Warped Tour skate contest qualifications, and during that time hosted a grip of visiting pros and teams.
There are now many more skateparks in existence, most of which are newer and more modern than Saratoga’s; Yet the East Side Rec is continually put it to good use. It holds great memories for the hoards of skateboarders from all around the country who have visited it in its 30+ years of existence. A fully concrete park is finally on the horizon for Saratoga, with approval and full support from the City, the school district and the public. Please donate to the construction fund to help with the last step in this long-awaited dream by clicking on the DONATE button in the footer.
“My son and I skate together as often as we can. Despite our 30+ years age difference, skating is this unifying force. The underlying drive is the same for both of us – let’s skate hard and have fun.”
— Tom, local skater