The top skate parks and shops in New York City

Millennium Skate Park

• Free

Designed by legendary skater Andy Kessler, who passed away suddenly in 2009, the 12-year-old Millennium has become a hot spot for NYC boarders, despite its deep-in-Brooklyn location just off the Bay Ridge waterfront. Give the spacious, winding six-foot-deep bowl a go, but be confident you can land your slick move—pros like Pat Smith have been known to drop by. nycgovparks.org; free; signed waiver required to skate.

Pier 62 Skatepark

• Free

Although it’s been around for less than three years, this attraction has already become a favorite for local skate rats. And we understand why: It uses foam to mimic natural earth formations, and its whopping 15,000 square feet boasts a huge flow section, wedges, ledges and a bowl. This variety naturally attracts experienced rollers. But fear not, newbies: There are areas for you, too—like the beginner-friendly Ollie Zone. hudsonriverpark.org; free.

River Avenue Skate Park

• Free

This 10,000-square-foot plaza gives off a gritty, quintessentially NYC vibe. Cruise through the concrete jungle, located in the shadow of Yankee Stadium, while the elevated 4 train rumbles overhead and you’ll see what we mean. Local skating hero and community activist Steve Rodriguez helped design the park, which hosted the Battle for the Bronx, a day of skating festivities and competitions. nycgovparks.org; free; signed waiver required to skate.  

Homage Brooklyn

The gear lining this shop’s walls won’t be of any use to you if you don’t know how to use it. Fortunately, the independently owned haven for skateboarders (and snowboarders) also runs the New York Skate Academy (615 DeGraw St between Third and Fourth Aves, Gowanus, Brooklyn), which offers group ($30/hr) and private ($75/hr) lessons for peeps of all ages and skill levels, so you can learn how to, you know, actually skate after nabbing a board.

KCDC Skateshop

The fact that this well-stocked store offers top-of-the-line goods by more than 250 brands isn’t the only reason you’ll want to swing (or skate) by. KCDC is also a big part of the skater community in North Brooklyn, welcoming concerts and other special events (No Age and Ty Segall rocked out in its old space in 2010 and 2011, respectively) and taking over a nearby Williamsburg venue each Thursday through April 18 for Skate Night, which features music, art and (duh) skating. 718-387-9006, kcdcskateshop.com

Shut NYC

When Shut introduced its line of skating equipment in 1986, it was the first company of its kind in the city, and its high-quality, USA-made boards quickly became a hot commodity. Its open-to-the-public shop on the Lower East Side, which debuted in 2008, hosts photography and artwork exhibits and remains a destination for committed skaters of all ages—even kids, who can peruse instructional DVDs and a Junior Varsity line of gear—and, we hope, absorb warnings from staffers about the potential for a lifetime of painful groin injuries. Though true skaters wouldn’t have it any other way. 212-420-7488, shutnyc.com