Wollman Rink
From October to April, Wollman Rink welcomes visitors for ice skating, an activity that has a long history in Central Park.
Wollman Rink’s location in the south area of the Park makes it easy to reach as well as a prime spot for enjoying Park scenery and the City skyline—a combination that becomes ever more dramatic after dark. In addition to skate rentals, the rink offers light refreshments.
Skating was one of the first recreational activities visitors experienced in Central Park, when the Lake welcomed skaters in winter 1858. While the Lake was always the premier skating spot, skating on the Pond and other Park water bodies was also an option.
Wollman Rink was built in 1950 over the northernmost section of the Pond. During the same period several other recreational facilities were added to the Park as well, including Chess & Checkers House, Central Park Boathouse, and Kerbs Boathouse. The rink’s construction was funded by philanthropist Kate Wollman in honor of her family.
Things you can do here
Self-Guided Tours
Walking in a Winter Wonderland
Fill yourself with holiday cheer on this winter stroll through the south end.
Tags: Art & Architecture
Guides
Snow Guide
Ready for a snow day in Central Park?
Tags: Winter / Kids and Families / Health & Fitness
Self-Guided Tours
Women’s History Walk
Since its creation, women have helped make Central Park a unique and thriving public space.
Tags: History / Self-Guided Tours / Art & Architecture
Self-Guided Tours
59th Street Tree Walk
Rediscover one of the Park’s most popular areas through its beautiful tree population.
Tags: Tree Walk / Plants and Trees
Self-Guided Tours
South End Tour
Explore one of the most popular areas of Central Park — from the Children’s District to the smallest of the Park’s woodland landscapes.
Tags: History / Art & Architecture
Also in the area
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Park Information
Must-Visit Places in Central Park This Winter
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Tags: Families / Best for Kids / Staff Picks / All Ages / First-Time Visitors
Park History
Concerts of Note: Central Park’s Musical Highlights
Central Park has a storied history as a concert venue, welcoming musicians of all genres to its iconic lawns. Large or small, under clear or cloudy skies, music-making has been an essential part of the Park from the beginning.
Tags: History / Art Lovers
Things to See and Do
20 Ways to Enjoy Winter in Central Park
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Things to See and Do
How to Spend the Holiday Season in Central Park
The holidays are a wonderful time to visit Central Park! Here are some ways to make lasting memories in the Park during the final few months of the year.
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Park History
5 Historic Women Memorialized in Central Park
We highlight a few trailblazing, but little known, women who inspired or funded a variety of features in Central Park.
Tags: History
Park History
From the Archives: Winter in Central Park
Go back in time with us to the 1980s and '90s. Some things look very different. But New Yorkers’ love of ice skating in Central Park and the serene beauty of its snow-covered landscapes remain timeless.
Tags: Winter / History / Landscapes
Things to See and Do
Make Central Park a Part of Your Thanksgiving Tradition
Celebrating Thanksgiving in New York City can be especially magical, and we want to help you make lasting memories.
Tags: Families / Fall / Tips for Visiting
Park History
The History of Ice Skating in Central Park
Ice skating in Central Park is a wintertime ritual for New Yorkers. Learn about its history and how the tradition lives on at today’s NYC ice rinks, including the famed Wollman Rink and the new Harlem Meer Center.
Tags: Park Design / Winter / History / Landscape Design / Restoration and Maintenance