The first patented roller skate was introduced in 1760 by Belgian inventor John Joseph Merlin. Because they were difficult to steer and stop, their popularity was no more than modest. In 1863, businessman James Plimpton improved on this design and interest in the sport grew. By the 1950s, nearly every kid had a pair of skates and a roller rink birthday party was a must. Their popularity peaked in the 1970s and ’80s, but by the mid-’90s, rinks began to close. However, all your roller skating dreams have not been crushed. We’ve still got some great old rinks in New Jersey, along with more modern additions to the skate scene. The largest roller skating rink in New Jersey is the perfect place to indulge in a little nostalgia.

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Would you love to skate some time soon? Visit Branch Brook Park Skating Center at 7th Avenue & Clifton Avenue, Newark. If you’re not in the area, New Jersey has other fantastic options including Deptford Skating Center, Frenchtown Roller Rink, ISC Mount Laurel, and Young’s Skating Center in Mays Landing. For more old-fashioned fun in New Jersey, check out this retro arcade.

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