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Boardwalk redeveloper Madison Marquette is bringing skateboarding back to the waterfront with the  launch of Forth Union Skate and Culture Organization Sunday.

Through a partnership with Red Bull, a wooden skate bowl will be housed temporarily inside the historic Carousel building. The 3 ½ foot mini bowl [previously housed at Mountain Creek resort in Vernon], has been installed within the 100-year-old historic indoor amusement hub, officials announced Friday morning.

“We are proud to provide another innovative entertainment experience on the Asbury Park Boardwalk,” said Madison Marquette Managing Director Peter Tomai. “Our diverse range of retail, specialty attractions, and eclectic hospitality continues to elevate Asbury into one of the finest Waterfront destinations in the country.”

Made possible through collaboration with Asbury Park Skateboarding Foundation members Lou Cuccaro of Metal Skateboards and Derek Rinaldi of SKATEDAILY.net, the skateboarding hub will be a site for special events, live music, cultural arts, and APSF clinics as they work to secure a permanent home. The nonprofit is working to build a permanent, free, state-of-the-art skate park within the city.

The skateboarding hub marks the resurgence of waterfront skateboarding, made popular in the 1990s with the former Casino Skatepark and Deal Lake Pool skateboarding, featured in many magazines, books, and film.

The Forth Union initiative launched in July, when along with APSF, the east coast premiere of Made in Venice, a documentary about the struggle to create and maintain a public skate park on Venice Beach in California, brought revered skateboard Juice Magazine editor Dan Levy and skate legend Jesse Martinez to the Carousel.

“…skateboarding as an activity in the historic Carousel building breathes hope and progress back into a community that would otherwise be overlooked,” Levy said. “This is significant for skateboarders of all generations, rekindling the spirit and support of community-minded participants.”

By spring, Forth Union is expected to include a lounge area to accommodate the special events, skateboard related retail and a hub for food truck vendors. In addition to hosting skate related events, art installations, and live music, Forth Union will serve as the information hub for the APSF’s fundraising efforts.

The grand opening will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, complete with free skating for groms only until noon, followed by free skate for all ages from noon to 5 p.m.

The event is being held in conjunction with the 9 p.m. free screening of The Fourth Phase, starring iconic snowboarder Travis Rice, at the Paramount Theatre, located at 1300 Ocean Ave. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. with a Red Bull Pre Show slated for 8:30 p.m.

For more information, visit www.forthunion.com.

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