Protesters on Thursday pleaded with pro skater Tony Hawk to select an alternate location for his proposed skate park that does not encroach upon an existing green space in Brooklyn.

“They deserve a beautiful place to skate but also we deserve more green space and paving a park does not give us more green space,” said Aidan Screwvala, a member of the group Friends of Mount Prospect Park.

She was among a dozen people who gathered on the Upper West Side Thursday night to protest the new skate park, which was designed by Hawk’s nonprofit, The Skatepark Project, coming to Prospect Heights.

“No one really seems to understand that the site that was chosen is a green space that’s going to be paved over with 40,000 square feet of concrete,” said Justin Evans, another member of Friends of Mount Prospect Park.

The protesters chose the Upper West Side location hoping to garner Hawk’s attention near the Beacon Theatre, where he is co-starring in a show called “Darkslides and Secret Tapes.”

“He would maybe be on our side and start working with his foundation, working with Mayor [Eric] Adams to find a new location for the skating facility because I think this skating facility should be built, I don’t think it should be built on this park,” said Screwvala.

The Skatepark Project has already generated support from Adams for the Prospect Park location and said the plan includes planting new trees and landscaping. The group stressed that no existing trees will be disturbed—but some residents remain concerned about the environmental impact.

“I could not believe that anybody was gonna put concrete in a green space in 2024. We just had the hottest summer on record and concrete adds to the heat island effect that will make New York City hotter and will ruin the future of our climate for our children and grandchildren. So, it seemed almost insane,” said Evans.

Brooklyn Skate Garden, which has been seeking funding for years to build a park to honor the late pro skater Pablo Ramirez, posted images as inspiration for what they want it to look like and Prospect Heights residents had mixed reactions.

“They’ll be messing up the park. This park been like this for years and I think it should stay as it is. Skateboard park? No,” said Nadine Jacobs, a longtime Prospect Heights resident.

But resident Julia Anrather thinks it’s a good idea, saying, “As long as they don’t rip out any trees, I’m like go for it. There are plenty of kids in the neighborhood who want something to do.”

This is one of four new skate parks coming to the city, two in Brooklyn and two in the Bronx. They’re expected to be completed by 2027.