Manhattan · New York County
Central Park Wollman Rink
NYC Parks
- Location
- Southeast section of Central Park, near 62nd Street
- Size
- Part of Central Park acres
- Hours
- Seasonal: late October to April
- Type
- NYC Parks
Wollman Rink is the iconic outdoor ice skating rink in the southeast corner of Central Park, where skaters glide beneath the towering skyline of Midtown Manhattan in one of the most photographed winter scenes in the world.
The rink became nationally famous in 1986 when Donald Trump took over its stalled renovation from the city, completing the project under budget and ahead of schedule. The episode was one of Trump's earliest entries into the public consciousness beyond real estate.
Wollman Rink's setting, in a natural depression surrounded by rocky outcrops with the skyscrapers of Central Park South and Midtown rising directly behind, creates a composition that has appeared in dozens of films from 'Serendipity' to 'Home Alone 2.'
The rink converts to Victorian Gardens, a small seasonal amusement park for children, during the summer months. The dual use maximizes the value of the space throughout the year.
Wollman Rink provides the quintessential New York winter experience: skating on an outdoor rink in the world's most famous park, with the Manhattan skyline rising above the trees like a frozen dream of urban grandeur.