Montclair, NJ – Skate Essex, Inc. held an official ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration Sunday for “Candy Courts,” a Montclair skatepark featuring seven unique, skateable sculptures designed by 2021 USA Olympic skateboarder and seven-time X Games Medalist Alexis Sablone. Sablone, an MIT and Barnard graduate, designed the sculptures to be functional pieces of art for skaters of various abilities.
On the morning of the grand opening, skate enthusiasts gathered for free lessons from icon Alexis Sablone and local skaters from both the Montclair High School Skate Club and Shred.co, a local organization committed to spreading the physical, social and emotional benefits of skateboarding through weekly skate lessons and summer programs. During the demonstration, Sablone shared her favorite moves specific to the unique features of the park; by 11:00 am there were more than 100 skaters taking turns riding the skateable sculptures.
Candy Courts is quickly being established as a destination for skaters of all ages from Montclair and the surrounding areas, who have been putting it to good use since the park unofficially opened early in 2023. During the official ribbon cutting at noon, Paul King of Skate Essex spoke to the meaning of the park for the local community and the innovation behind the skateable art.
“The Courts Skatepark has been a long time coming for Montclair. But Candy Courts, with its skateable artwork, is not just another skatepark. With the vision of Alexis Sablone and the support of The Skatepark Project and 5th Pocket Skateparks, as well as the support from the town, families and local skaters, Montclair is now the home of one of the most unique skateparks in the country,” said King.
Later in the day, community members watched advanced skaters tear up the skatepark during contests that allowed them to show off on each of the seven skateable sculptures. Some of the Montclair locals also went home with swag from the free giveaways, including skate decks from Alltimers and shoes from Cons.
Installed at Rand Park on North Fullerton Avenue, Candy Courts represents phase two of a plan to create safe spaces for local skaters, with phase one being the designation of the Rand Park tennis courts for skateboarding. The skateable sculptures are the result of the combined efforts of local skaters and their families, the mayor and town council, and organizations like 5th Pocket Skateparks and Tony Hawk’s The Skatepark Project that helped fund and build the obstacles.
“We’re proud to partner with Skate Essex and TSP Ambassador Alexis Sablone to help bring more accessible outdoor recreation opportunities to the Montclair community,” said Benjamin Anderson Bashein, Executive Director of the Skatepark Project. “We’re looking forward to seeing the creative expressions of local skaters with this unique park, both as a skate space and an inspiration for other parks like it. Skateboarding is a beautiful way to bring people together and form close bonds within a community, and we’re excited to watch the sport grow in Montclair and Essex County.”
Skateboarding is a community-centered sport that fosters lasting relationships between diverse groups of people, promotes a healthy lifestyle, and teaches patience and perseverance. Candy Courts was designed to call attention to the beauty of the sport while providing a safe space for outdoor recreation. The skatepark is open every day from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM at 155 North Fullerton Avenue in Montclair, NJ.
