An East Coast version of California's Venice skate park, Pier 62 sits on the edge of the Hudson River in the Chelsea District. Photo courtesy of Hudson River Park

1. Pier 62 Skate Park (Chelsea Piers) — Chelsea

Hudson River Park at 22nd Street
Open 8am-dusk
This 15,000-square-foot skate park looks like it's sculpted into the earth, with lots of natural curves and rounded shapes. It boasts a great view right on the waterfront, and there's plenty of other things to do with kids in Chelsea, making it a wonderful destination for beginning skaters.

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Pier 25 Skatepark is an 8,840 square foot street-style skatepark designed and built by California Skateparks. Photo courtesy of Hudson River Park

2. Pier 25 Skate Park — Tribeca

Hudson River Park at N Moore Street
Open 8am-dusk
Rather than the smooth rounded look of Pier 62, Pier 25 is all angles and shelves, making it better for more advanced skateboarders. And again, there are a lot of other things to do in the vicinity!

3. Coleman Skate Park — Chinatown

Between Monroe and Cherry Streets, and Market and Pike Streets
Open dawn-dusk
Located under the Manhattan Bridge, this urban skate park features ramps, jumps and more. A signed liability waiver is required.

4. Riverside Skate Park — Upper West Side

Riverside Park and 108th Street
Known as New York's first skate park, this skaters' mecca in Riverside Park was renovated in 2013 to include a 10-foot half pipe as well as a mini half pipe and quarter pipe. Open seasonally from June to September. Bowl hours are from 3-7pm when public schools are in session and 11-7pm during the summer. Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. A signed liability waiver is required.

5. Millennium Skate Park — Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

Owl's Head Park, Colonial Road between 68th Street and Wakeman Place
Open weekends 11am-7pm 
This skate park is divided into two parts: a concrete "combi-bowl" and a street course area. BMX bikes are permitted. A signed liability waiver is required.

6. Castle Point Skate Park — Hoboken, NJ

Sinatra Drive at 8th Street
Open dawn-dusk
Just a 15-minute ferry ride from Midtown West, this Hoboken skate park has pre-fab half pipes and quarter pipes, plus a breathtaking view of the Manhattan skyline.

7. River Avenue Skate Park — Concourse Village, the Bronx

River Avenue at 157th Street
Open 6am-10pm
This 10,000-square-foot concrete skate park features stairs, rails, ledges, benches, banks, gaps and transitioned elements in a plaza setting. Bikes, scooters and inline skates are also permitted. A signed liability waiver is required.

8. Astral Fountain Skate Park — Flushing, Queens

Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Open dawn-dusk
Pro skaters helped design this 16,000-square-foot course, which recreates popular (but illegal) NYC skating spots, including the stairs at Union Square, One Police Plaza and the Con Ed "pyramid ledges." It's located in a remote corner of the park, near the Unisphere, and opened in 2010. Bikes, scooters and inline skates are also permitted. A signed liability waiver is required.

9. High Bridge Skate Park — Washington Heights

West 181st Street at Amsterdam Avenue
Open dawn-dusk
This uptown park is hidden in a wooden strip, overlooking the Harlem River. As the largest skate park in NYC, it won't disappoint with a multitude of banks and ledges, rails, as well as a brick mini-bowl. A signed liability waiver is required.

10. Harold Ickes Skate Park – Red Hook, Brooklyn

Van Brunt St between Hamilton Ave & Summit St
Open dawn-dusk
Once an underutilized asphalt softball field, this newly-opened park features a state-of-the-art space for BMX biking, skateboarding, bouldering, and parkour. The park also includes the first ever bike repair station and air pumps installed in a Brooklyn park.  A signed liability waiver is required.

11. Astoria Skate Park – Astoria, Queens

Hoyt Ave South
Open dawn-dusk
This enormous skate park provides ample space for skaters of all levels to practice their skills. Skaters can enjoy multiple levels with stairs, rails, banks, and ledges of varying heights and sizes. A signed liability waiver is required.

A version of this post was published in 2011; it has been updated. Katie Nave Freeman contributed additional reporting.