Non-profit rolls their way into the heart of Trenton youth

Volunteers are giving back to Trenton youth by offering more than just a place to ride — they are building a community. Through teaching, mentoring, and sharing their passion, they are helping the next generation of skateboarders gain confidence, creativity, and connection.

Freedom Skate Park, a nonprofit indoor skate park dedicated to providing a safe and creative space for young skateboarders, was founded in 2018 by Jake McNichol, a lifelong skateboarder who grew up just outside the city in nearby Ewing. Today, it serves as New Jersey’s only free indoor skate park open to kids of all ages and skill levels, offering kids a place to practice, ride, and connect year-round, particularly during the winter months.

McNichol, 31, said that since many of New Jersey’s accessible skate parks are outdoors, he wanted to create Freedom to provide a safe and welcoming environment for young skaters to practice when it is dark, rainy, or cold. “When I was a kid, there used to be a bunch of indoor skate parks in New Jersey, but for various reasons, they all closed down over the years,” he explained.

By the time McNichol moved back to Trenton after college, he said, there were no indoor parks left in the entire state. “Trenton also never had a public skate park,” he added. “So, I saw these two things and I realized there’s an opportunity here to do something positive for the city and also fill a need for the skateboard community.”

The goal was to create a central location for local youth of all different skill levels and ages to come together and connect as a community. “When you’re a kid and you’ve never done an ollie or ridden down a ramp, you’re not going to be able to go out and skate a ‘street spot.’ It’s hard, even for someone like me who’s been doing this for 20 years,” McNichol said. “You need places where there are obstacles for skaters of all ability levels. That’s how a young person can learn to skate.”

What began as a short five-event pilot program has grown exponentially. It now draws roughly 80-to-100 visitors each weekend and has given out more than 200 skateboards through partnerships with local schools and nonprofits. “Some show up afraid to even stand on the board,” Jared Ross, executive director of Freedom Skate Park, said. “An hour later, they’re rolling around the park with huge smiles. It gets them off their screens, challenges them, and gives them a sense of community.”

The programs at Freedom are more about camaraderie than landing cool tricks. Helmets are required for anyone under 18, and everyone is heavily encouraged to wear additional padding. Volunteers help by teaching beginners the basics, starting with how to kick off and glide on flat surfaces before moving to more advanced ramps and rails.

“Skateboarding is no more dangerous than ice skating when approached with proper guidance,” McNichol explained. “It’s a really cool and unique activity that, especially for kids in a city like Trenton, gives them a chance to be creative and physically active. To do something positive and fun.”

Unlike traditional sports, skateboarding isn’t inherently competitive. McNichol said it builds a culture where skaters support one another rather than focusing on winners and losers. “It teaches you how to think creatively, how to set goals for yourself, and how to work hard and follow through on that goal,” he emphasized. “Along the way, it also brings together a diverse community and introduces people to other folks who they might never meet in any other way.”

Freedom runs several programs throughout the year, offering free admission, helmets, and loaner boards so anyone can participate regardless of experience or equipment. This year’s Winter Skate Program will kick off with a special contest on November 1 and continue every Saturday—November 8, 15, 22, 29, and December 6, 13, and 20—from noon to 6 p.m.

However, the season will be slightly shorter this year, ending in December as the city begins structural repairs to the historic Roebling Wire Works building in January. “It’s part of Trenton’s industrial past, and now it’s part of its creative future,” McNichol said about
the space. “And we’re really proud to be part of that and helping to support it.”

Because Freedom shares space with other organizations, including the Trenton Circus Squad, the park is only open during scheduled programs. Full programming will resume once construction is complete.

Throughout the season, Freedom will host beginner sessions, open skate events, and board giveaways for underserved and at-risk youth.
For McNichol, things have come full circle. Watching the kids grow with the program, he said, has been one of the most rewarding parts. “We’ve seen it where kids who got their first board at one of our events now volunteer with us.”

In addition to their work with local youth, Freedom supports the arts and music scene by hosting concerts, skate contests, art shows, and meetups for women and LGBTQ skaters. They also collaborate with the Trenton Circus Squad to put on a circus skate show.

Although other indoor skate parks have opened in New Jersey, Freedom remains one-of-a-kind— the only nonprofit park that is free to the public. Backed by a growing community of skaters and volunteers, it has become a place where creativity, community, and physical activity intersect.

To find out more about Freedom Skate Park, visit freedomnj.org or follow @FreedomNJ on Instagram.