What you need to know about the new skatepark at the Grand Central Park in Thane

If you were to observe a young adult approach a flight of stairs closely you can identify the exact moment their heart shatters when they realise there isnrsquot an escalator in sight usually followed by a deep sigh Kushal Gaikwad a skater from Dombivli thinks itrsquos no big deal A firm strike with his foot on the edge of his skateboard and the 22yearold is airborne and before you can wrap your mind around the physics behind it all Gaikwad will have slid his way down the handrails on to his next trick Itrsquos all happening under the sun at the newly inaugurated skatepark at the Grand Central Park in Thane a landmark that skaters from the suburb have been waiting to open for perhaps a tad too longThe skater tests a down ledge at the park PicsSameer MarkandeFirst impressionsWalking into the new skatepark managed by the Thane Municipal Corporation Gaikwad shares what it means for the community ldquoThere were no skateparks in the city in 2017 when I started practising The Carter Road skatepark opened in 2019 but it soon became too small to accommodate the growing community While it is a great spot to experiment it offers little in terms of growth and training This one is even more special for us because we will no longer have to travel from the central suburbs to the city every timerdquo Gaikwad is in for a pleasant surprise even before he is done slipping into his gear mdash a dedicated attendee is stationed at the skatepark to provide firstaid and keep a watchful eye on young skaters for their safety ldquoIrsquove never seen this anywhere else Hopefully this encourages parents to get their children into the sportrdquo he remarksKushal GaikwadTricks and treatsGaikwad beelines straight to the street section that forms one half of the park After 30 minutes of kickflips ollies and slides on the downledges stairs rails ramps and the euro gap mdash a specialised ramp that opens to a gap followed by a flat ledge mdash Gaikwad takes a breather He shares his halftime report ldquoThe courses are built in full length without cramming things together to save space and the installations feel rigid giving you the confidence to go all inrdquo Yoursquod expect that from a 20000 sq ft park but the skater offers some deeper insight ldquoHaving standardised installations means learners who train here will be better prepared to enter professional competitions in the future Itrsquos also convenient for intermediate and professionals who scramble for spots leading up to competitionsrdquoGaikwad balances at the edge of the skating bowl as he enters itMaintenance mattersAs Gaikwad cruises on to the neighbouring section where a concrete bowl awaits him he lets us in on what it takes to maintain a skatepark ldquoThe defining characteristic of a skating bowl and a wellexecuted park is its smoothness It offers you control and flexibility over how and when you approach a trick I see a few cleaners here who are making sure the course stays clear Thatrsquos a welcome change We had a skatepark in Dombivli that is now in ruin because no one bothered to maintain itrdquo he recalls adding that a complete revamp every eight years will ensure the new skatepark doesnrsquot go down the same path While skaters have easy access to the common washrooms and purified water dispensers at the park the maintenance of these perks will ultimately dictate their longevity Being maintained by the Kalpataru Group the skater shares that hersquos hopeful of timely audits and maintenance Cracking the cultureGaikwadrsquos second and larger concern might leave the authorities parents and our readers divided ldquoWearing a helmet was never a part of skateboarding culture Even at the professional competitions yoursquoll never spot one but the park makes it mandatory It might be a good idea for children and learners but others must have the freedom to ditch itrdquo he sighs The skaterrsquos concerns around a possible culture gap between the authorities and skaters extend to a rumoured price hike While the Grand Central Park currently levies a common R20 entry charge the 22yearold worries the skatepark might soon charge a premium a move adopted by private skateparks in the cityWe leave Gaikwad with a question that has been brewing in our minds since the inauguration of the park mdash does the park lack visually what it compensates for technically ldquoThe basics have been taken care of There is ample lighting post sunset and the ledges are marked in red for increased visibility It is true that skateboarding has long been associated with hiphop graffiti and freedom of expression but we understand that the skatepark is a part of a larger park that follows a broader visual aesthetic A skatepark is not about visuals as much as it is about the facilities but it would be great to see the authorities invite some graffiti artists to spice things uprdquo he concludesAt Grand Central Park Kolshet Industrial Area Thane WestTimings1 pm to 9 pmEntry Rs 20 Rs 30 on weekendsSkateboarding venuesgtgt Nerul SkateparkAt Sector 19A near Yashwantrao Chavan Ground Nerul EastTimings 9 am to 7 pmgtgt Dadar Pep SkateparkAt Hindmata Signal Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road Dadar EastTimings 9 am to 9 pmgtgt Carter Road SkateparkAt Opposite Additional Police Commissioner Office Carter Road Bandra WestTimings Open 24 hrs