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Wollman Rink

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This article is about the rink in Central Park in Manhattan. For the former Kate Wollman Memorial Rink at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, see Prospect Park (Brooklyn).

Wollman Rink is a public ice rink in the southern part of Central Park, Manhattan, New York City. It is named after the Wollman family who donated the funds for its original construction.[1] The rink is open for ice skating from late October to early April. From 2003 until 2019, Victorian Gardens, a seasonal amusement park for children, was operated on the site from late May to September.

Wollman Rink during the daytime
Summertime amusement park
Map
Notable buildings and structures of Central Park. Click on the map and then on the points for details.
This map:

Wollman Rink opened in 1950, having been proposed four years earlier. The rink was closed for renovations in late 1980 and reopened in November 1986. Following the renovation, The Trump Organization operated the rink under contract with the New York City government until 1995 and again from 2001 until 2021, when control was given to Wollman Park Partners, a joint venture formed between Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, The Related Companies, and Equinox Group.

Site

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The rink is located at the southeast corner of Central Park. It was formerly part of the Pond, located directly east of Wollman Rink. The Pond's western section was drained and backfilled during the mid-20th century.[2]

Wollman Rink at Central Park is distinct from the Kate Wollman Memorial Rink at Prospect Park in Brooklyn which was built with money donated by the William J. Wollman Foundation after Kate Wollman's death.[1] It was operational from 1961[3] until its demolition in 2010.[4]

History

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Initial planning and funding

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A skating rink in the southeastern corner of Central Park was first proposed in 1945.[5] In 1949, philanthropist Kate Wollman (1869–1955)[6] donated $600,000 for the rink's construction to commemorate her family.[1] She is the great-aunt of Henry and Richard Bloch, co-founders of H&R Block.[7] One of her brothers was William J. Wollman, who operated the W.J. Wollman & Co. stock exchange firm, originally in Kansas City and later in New York. After he died in 1937, she helped administer his estate.[8]

Wollman Rink opened in 1950.[9]

Renovation: 1980–1986

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In 1974, the New York City Parks and Recreation Department started planning a renovation of the rink, including switching the refrigeration system from brine to liquid Freon to lower the operation costs at a time of rising fuel costs.[10][11] In January 1975, a $4 million plan to renovate Wollman Rink at the park's southeastern corner was announced.[12] By late 1975, the Central Park Task Force, an agency of NYC Parks, released a revised plan to dredge the Pond and redesign the landscaping in the park's southeastern corner for $2.5 million.[13] All plans were deferred due to the 1975 New York City fiscal crisis.[10][11]

The rink had to be closed in the winter of 1980 when its concrete floor buckled; at that time, the renovation was estimated to cost up to $4.9 million and take two years. Due to the necessity of soliciting bids for three separate contracts and a series of planning errors, construction mishaps, and flooding caused by heavy rains, the renovations had not been completed by May 1986 when the city reversed the decision to use Freon and decided on staying with brine in plastic pipes. By that time, $12.9 million had been spent, with an additional $2 to $3 million estimated to complete the work by the winter of 1987.[10][11]

Donald Trump then publicly offered to complete the renovations at his expense within six months, in return for leases to operate the rink and an adjacent restaurant in order to recoup his costs.[10] Instead, Mayor Ed Koch agreed to reimburse Trump for any costs up to an agreed limit, and Trump agreed to donate the profits of rink and restaurant to charity and public works.[10][14] Trump convinced the primary contractor, HRH Construction, to do the work without making a profit, telling them that their work would pay for itself with the publicity.[10][15] However, in press conferences that Trump held at every incremental milestone in the four-month effort, he never mentioned HRH.[10]

Adrian Benepe, then the Parks Department's spokesperson and later its commissioner, stated the project was largely complete by the time Trump entered the picture, and that the city, not Trump, had paid the contractors for the actual reconstruction.[10] The work was completed two months ahead of schedule and $750,000 under the estimated costs.[10][16][17] As part of the agreement to keep operating Wollman Rink, Trump agreed to also take a concession for the Lasker Rink as well, and the Trump Organization won concessions for the rinks in 1987.[18]

Skating rink operation: 1986–2021

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Wollman Rink in 2011

When the rink reopened in November 1986,[10][19] ticket prices were raised from $2.50 to $4.50, and attendance was up from 130,000 in 1980 to 250,000 in 1987. As part of its agreement with the city, the Trump Organization donated most of the profit to public works, including $50,000 for the rink's electricity costs, and to charity, among them United Cerebral Palsy, Partnership for the Homeless, and Gay Men's Health Crisis.[20]

The Trump Organization held the concession until 1995, when M&T Pretzel Inc. outbid Trump for a six-year contract to operate Wollman and Lasker skating rinks.[21] A Trump-owned subsidiary, Wollman Rink Operations LLC, won another concession in 2001 to operate the rinks until April 30, 2021.[22][23] Wollman Rink Operations LLC is owned by DJT Holdings LLC which was owned by the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust for the duration of Trump's presidency.[22]

A 2007 city comptroller review found that Trump's operation had underreported its revenue from the rink by $106,608, thus shortchanging the city.[24]

In 2019, the Trump Organization removed the Trump name from most signs and logos at both Wollman and Lasker Rinks without giving a reason.[25] During its last season of operation, the Trump Organization charged admission fees of $12 for adults from Monday to Thursday, $19 on Friday to Sunday and holidays, and $6 all week for youths 11 and under.[26]

Cancellation of Trump Organization contracts

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In January 2021, New York City mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city government would be severing all contracts with the Trump Organization, citing Trump's involvement in the previous week's storming of the United States Capitol. The cancellation of the Trump Organization's contracts to operate Wollman Rink, Lasker Rink, and the Central Park Carousel was supposed to go into effect on February 26.[27][28] The city later allowed the rinks to stay open until the scheduled end of the skating season.[29][30] The Trump concession expired in April 2021.[27]

In February 2021, the Parks Department announced their request for competitive bids on 5-year contracts for the operation and maintenance of Wollman Rink to be submitted by March 2021.[31][32] Separately, the non-profit Central Park Conservancy had proposed operating the rink for 20 years and investing $50 million towards renovations.[33] In July 2021, Wollman Park Partners LLC, a joint venture between Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, The Related Companies, and Equinox Group, received a five-year contract to operate the rink.[34][35] The rink, with a new clubhouse, reopened in November 2021.[36]

Temporary pickleball courts were installed at Wollman Rink between April and October 2023,[37] as part of a short-term agreement with CityPickle, which operated the courts.[38][39] The courts attracted 56,000 players during 2023.[40] NYC Parks subsequently announced in April 2024 that it would install 14 permanent courts at the rink, under the ice.[40][41]

Other uses

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Concert venue

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Until 1980, the rink was the venue for annual summer rock, pop, country, and jazz concerts. Initially the "Wollman Theater" or "Wollman Skating Rink Theater" had 4,400 seats; bleachers were added in 1972 to increase the capacity to 8,000.[42] In 1957, WOR radio personality Jean Shepherd hosted a series of "Jazz under the stars" concerts on 15 consecutive nights, featuring Billie Holiday, Bud Powell, Lionel Hampton, Dave Brubeck, Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Rich, Dinah Washington, Stan Getz, and others.[43][44] From 1966 to 1980, music festivals consisting of 30 to 50 concerts each were held at the rink.[42] The festivals were named after their main sponsors, Rheingold Beer in 1966 and 1967, F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company from 1968 to 1976 when the festival was called the Schaefer Music Festival,[42] and Dr Pepper from 1977 to 1980 when it was called the Dr Pepper Central Park Music Festival.[45] Todd Rundgren's Utopia, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Who, Mothers of Invention, Led Zeppelin, The Beach Boys, and the Patti Smith Group were some of the biggest rock groups who played at the rink;[45] country, blues, rhythm & blues, and jazz artists included Earl Scruggs, John Lee Hooker, The Supremes, and Buddy Rich.[46][47][48][49]

Victorian Gardens

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From 2003 until 2019, Central Amusement International, LLC, operator of the Luna Park amusement park in Coney Island, Brooklyn, operated Victorian Gardens, a seasonal amusement park for children "specifically geared to ages 2–12 years old", on the site from late May to September.[50][51]

Pickleball

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Wollman Rink opened 14 pickleball courts in 2023, branded as CityPickle.[52][53]

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Wollman Rink has been featured in several films, including Love Story (1970),[54] Carnal Knowledge (1971), The Devil's Own (1997),[55] Serendipity (2001),[54] Night at the Museum (2006), Limitless (2011),[56] Mr. Popper's Penguins (2011), and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992),[57][58][59] as well as the television show Impractical Jokers (2015).

References

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Notes

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c McKinley, Jesse (December 24, 1995). "F.Y.I". The New York Times. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  2. ^ Budin, Jeremiah (December 2, 2015). "How New York's Central Park Escaped Dozens of Misguided 'Improvements'". Curbed.
  3. ^ "New Wollman Rink Is Dedicated in Brooklyn". The New York Times. December 23, 1961. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  4. ^ Pollak, Michael (August 7, 2011). "Monitoring Progress of Wollman Rink in Prospect Park". The New York Times. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  5. ^ "CITY PLANS SKATING RINK". The New York Times. May 12, 1945. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  6. ^ "Wollman Family Collection" (PDF). State Historical Society of Missouri. April 23, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 4, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  7. ^ Hershey Jr., Robert D. (April 23, 2019). "Henry W. Bloch, Tax-Preparation Pioneer (and Pitchman), Is Dead at 96". The New York Times. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  8. ^ "Rink, Play Area in Central Park Provided in $600,000 Gift to City". The New York Times. May 17, 1949. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  9. ^ "New Skating Rink in Central Park To Be Opened to Public Thursday". The New York Times. December 18, 1950. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Freedlander, David (September 29, 2015). "A 1980s New York City Battle Explains Donald Trump's Candidacy". Bloomberg News. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  11. ^ a b c "New York Hopes to Learn From Rink Trump Fixed; Wollman Rink Scorecard". The New York Times. November 21, 1986. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  12. ^ "Central Park on Thin Ice". The New York Times. January 23, 1975. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  13. ^ Goldberger, Paul (September 28, 1975). "Plan Completed for Central Park". The New York Times. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  14. ^ Daley, Suzanne (June 6, 1986). "Trump to Rebuild Wollman Rink at the City's Expense by Dec. 15". The New York Times. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  15. ^ Babin, Janet (October 19, 2016). "Is Donald Trump Saving NYC Millions, or Making Millions Off Taxpayers?". WNYC News. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  16. ^ Geist, William E. (November 15, 1986). "Pssst, Here's a Secret: Trump Rebuilds Ice Rink". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  17. ^ Kula, Irwin; Hatkoff, Craig (August 24, 2015). "Donald Trump And The Wollman Rinking of American Politics". Forbes. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  18. ^ Anderson, Susan Heller (October 15, 1987). "Trump to Run 2 Ice-Skating Rinks in Central Park". The New York Times. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  19. ^ Douville, Amanda (April 5, 2016). "Look back at Donald Trump's start in real estate in his native New York City". New York Daily News. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  20. ^ Rosenthal, Andrew (April 1, 1987). "Trump reports large profit from Wollman Rink". The New York Times. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  21. ^ Lambert, Bruce (September 17, 1995). "Hot Dog Kings Outbid Trump For Wollman". The New York Times. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  22. ^ a b Bump, Philip (May 16, 2018). "Trump has earned $59 million in three years running attractions for New York City". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  23. ^ "Audit Report On The Compliance Of Wollman Rink Operations Llc With Its License Agreement And Payment Of License Fees Due". New York City Comptroller. July 5, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  24. ^ Andrews, Jeff (January 13, 2021). "City Cancels the Wollman Rink Contract That Built Trump's Myth". Curbed. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  25. ^ Shanahan, Ed (October 10, 2019). "Trump's Company Wipes His Name From New York City Skating Rinks That It Runs". The New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  26. ^ "Public Session Hours & Rates". wollmanskatingrink.com. Trump.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  27. ^ a b Fitzsimmons, Emma G. (January 13, 2021). "New York City Will End Contracts With Trump Over Capitol Riot". The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  28. ^ "NYC to Sever City Contracts With Trump Organization Over President's 'Criminal Act'". NBC. January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  29. ^ Barnard, Anne; Kvetenadze, Téa (February 21, 2021). "Central Park Ice Rinks Remain Open Despite Rift With Trump, Mayor Says". The New York Times. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  30. ^ Siese, April (February 22, 2021). "Central Park ice rinks to stay open for remainder of season following dispute with Trump Organization". CBS News. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  31. ^ "NYC Parks Seeks New Operator For Central Parks's Wollman Rink". NYC Parks. February 5, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  32. ^ Pereira, Sydney (February 21, 2021). "Central Park Ice Rinks Will Stay Open After Trump Organization Previously Announced Early Closure". Gothamist. Archived from the original on April 9, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  33. ^ Honan, Katie (April 14, 2021). "Control of New York City Skating Rink's Future Is on Ice". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  34. ^ Matthews, Karen (July 7, 2021). "New operator chosen for NYC ice rink formerly run by Trump". Associated Press. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  35. ^ "Related JV tapped to replace Trump at Wollman Ice Rink". Real Estate Weekly. July 7, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  36. ^ Manna, Victoria (November 14, 2021). "Central Park's Wollman Rink reopens under new ownership". Spectrum News. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  37. ^ Lazar, David (January 24, 2024). "Here is where to play pickleball in New York City". Spectrum News NY1. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  38. ^ Chang, Clio (March 23, 2023). "Pickleball Will Soon Swallow Central Park Whole". Curbed. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  39. ^ Barron, James (March 23, 2023). "In Spring, New Yorkers' Thoughts Turn to Pickleball". The New York Times. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  40. ^ a b Rahmanan, Anna (April 22, 2024). "You can play pickleball at Central Park's Wollman Rink this summer". Time Out New York. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  41. ^ Barron, James (April 22, 2024). "Pickleball Gets a Permanent Spot at Wollman Rink". The New York Times. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  42. ^ a b c Rockwell, John (June 18, 1975). "A Tradition Here Ends as Event Seeks Site for 1976". The New York Times. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  43. ^ "A Salute to Jean Shepherd". Flick Lives. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  44. ^ ebbergmann (January 21, 2014). "Jean Shepherd—chart—and all that jazz". shepquest.wordpress. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  45. ^ a b Mastropolo, Frank (August 15, 2016). "Central Park's Biggest Rock Concerts". Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  46. ^ "Rheingold/Schaefer Music Festival". setlist.fm. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  47. ^ "Rheingold Central Park Music Festival". setlist.fm. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  48. ^ "Schaefer Music Festival Setlists". setlist.fm. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  49. ^ "Dr. Pepper Summer Music Festival Setlists". setlist.fm. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  50. ^ "Victorian Gardens". www.centralpark.com. September 8, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  51. ^ "About Us". Victorian Gardens. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  52. ^ "CityPickle Lands at Wollman Rink in Central Park". www.city-pickle.com. March 23, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  53. ^ "Play Pickleball at CityPickle at Wollman Rink". pickleheads.com. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  54. ^ a b Alleman 2005, p. 90.
  55. ^ Alleman 2005, p. 92.
  56. ^ "Limitless (2011)". otsoNY.com. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  57. ^ Alberts, Hana R. (November 7, 2017). "The definitive guide to 'Home Alone 2' filming locations in NYC". Curbed New York. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  58. ^ Wierenga, Alexis (December 21, 2018). "Six Iconic Locations In New York Featured In Christmas Movies". Newsweek. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  59. ^ Alleman 2005.

Sources

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