By Krystle J Bailey
Dozens gathered at Back Sov Skatepark on Saturday, April 2nd, to lend a hand in cleaning up an area of Atlantic City that is deeply meaningful to local skaters and community members. The Back Sov skatepark, located on Sovereign Avenue across the water from Bader Field, is where skateboarders come to find solace. While the park was officially recognized by the city in 2019, the local skateboarding community has gathered in the area for over ten years. For Skate AC President Jay Klotz, the skatepark means so much more than a place to put down wheels.
“We are providing opportunities that my friends and I didn’t have growing up around here,” shares Klotz. “There were limiting beliefs about skateboarding culture, so we always felt like we didn’t have a place to belong. We try our best to make sure the kids around here feel appreciated.”
Along with the Skate AC team, Klotz actively advocates for skateboarding culture, shining a light on the mental health benefits of skating and the communal love, support, and camaraderie shared by those who come to Back Sov.
“Skateboarding has blessed me with so much abundance in my life,” shares Klotz. “It opens people up to so many other industries and creative pursuits. That is what I would love for people to realize.”
It is no secret that mental health and addiction plague today’s youth. According to a study conducted by USC, skateboarding and skateboarding culture have been found to improve mental health, foster community, and encourage diversity. The results of this study are not lost on Klotz and the Skate AC crew, who have not only relied on skating for their own well-being over the years but are passionate about giving the gift of skateboarding to today’s youth.
“I study the mind a lot,” explains Klotz. “One thing I’ve found is that skateboarding is proven to increase serotonin and dopamine levels. My buddies and I want other people to feel and experience what skating offers. The biggest motivating factor has always been what this park can do for people’s day-to-day lives and mental health.”
This is why the Skate AC crew is so committed to maintaining the Back Sov skatepark. Back Sov gives skaters of all ages a place to gather, learn to skate, try new tricks, and build a family.
Since its official inception in 2019, countless community events have been hosted at Back Sov, including the Vans Skateboard team coming to give out shoes to local kids, skate jam contests, and most recently, skatepark cleanups.
“For many years, the space was a forgotten about lot of land with broken glass and old batting cages,” says 33-year-old Klotz. “With the expansion of Stockton’s University District, this neighborhood has become something that is desirable. We’re excited about that and want to work shoulder-to-shoulder with them to positively influence the neighborhood.”
Hence, the April 2nd community cleanup where over 30 people gathered to pick up trash, brush away broken sidewalk glass, and show up for each other. Following the cleanup, volunteers were invited back to Tony’s Baltimore Grill to feast on pizza donated by the local’s favorite pizza shop. The Skate AC team is hopeful for the future with plans to incorporate more lighting, security cameras, and safety precautions at Back Sov that encourage skaters to hang out year-round.
“The best thing about Skate AC/Back Sov is the community that was created around a love of skateboarding,” explains Skate AC co-founder Zach Katzen. “We have been coming together to clean up our neighborhood for the past ten years. Through it all, we continue to show up for each other. Whether it’s helping a kid with a trick or taking the weekend to move a ramp across the state, this community constantly shows up for each other, and I think that is evident when you see the love shown at our cleanup.”
In addition to the forthcoming park cleanups, Skate AC will also be introducing free skateboard lessons for all ages. Klotz, who recently moved back to Atlantic City, spent the last several years learning how to professionally instruct aspiring skaters. The upcoming lessons are being sponsored by Lipstick Skateboards, a non-profit committed to empowering youth through skateboarding, which will be providing boards to those who don’t own one.
Skate AC is a 501c3 organization made possible through the love and support of board members like Geoff Dorsey, community members like Jill Fermonte, advocacy and guidance from Zach Katzen, and so many more individuals who have come together to celebrate the local skateboarding community.
Keep up with Skate AC events, donate to the mission, and show support on Instagram @SkateAC.
Krystle J Bailey. Multimedia journalist, Author, Poet.
Connect with Krystle on Instagram @thedailybailey5
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