(Cherry Hill, NJ) – On Tuesday, the Board of Commissioners joined elected officials and the local skateboarding community to break ground on a skate park in Cooper River Park. The skatepark will be the newest amenity added to the largest park in the Camden County Park System and will be the latest form of active recreation introduced into a county greenspace.
“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.”
In total the park will cost about $900,000, which includes both county and state funding. 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.
“Helping to fund this skate park is an investment in the future of both our youth and the community as a whole,” Greenwald said. “It’s more than just pouring concrete—it’s creating a safe, inclusive space where young people can express themselves, push their limits, and build confidence. By building this skate park, you’re not just giving them a place to skateboard; you’re giving them a sense of belonging and a positive outlet.”
Cherry Hill Mayor David Fleisher discussed how the skate park will be another treasured amenity offered at Cooper River Park.
“We are pleased that the County remains committed to investing in parks, recreation facilities and open spaces,” Fleisher said. “Once completed, the skate park will further build upon the various activities that have made Cooper River Park a destination for residents throughout South Jersey.”
Cooper River Park, planned and engineered more than 100 years ago by Charles Levitt, encompasses 346 acres through Pennsauken, Cherry Hill, Collingswood and Haddon Township. The park’s amenities include: the Camden County Boathouse, pavilions, a softball field, a cross country course, the Camden County Golf Academy, the Cooper River Yacht Club, two bike trails, Jack Curtis Stadium, a track, picnic areas, a bocce court and a playground. As a tri-state destination, Cooper River Park, was named a Great Place in New Jersey by the American Planning Association-New Jersey Chapter (APA-NJ). In addition, it is the home of the Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta, the largest high school and college rowing competition in the nation.