Groundbreaking at Prospect Park Rink
A bunch of news outlets covered the groundbreaking at the new skating rink in Prospect Park, which will replace the old Wollman Rink. $54 million of the total $70 million needed has been raised for the project, which includes a LEED-certified green building, two outdoor skating rinks, and the restoration of the original landscape design….
A bunch of news outlets covered the groundbreaking at the new skating rink in Prospect Park, which will replace the old Wollman Rink. $54 million of the total $70 million needed has been raised for the project, which includes a LEED-certified green building, two outdoor skating rinks, and the restoration of the original landscape design. Five acres will also be added to the lake as well as three adjacent acres of park land. This is scaled back from last year’s plan, which included “rooftop recreation.” Despite that, and despite the shortage of funds, those involved feel confident the plans will pull through. Says Prospect Park Alliance spokesman Eugene Patron, “We’re confident that the rest of the money will be coming in. We have great momentum here.
Long Awaited Groundbreaking Held for Lakeside [Brooklyn Eagle]
Pols Hail New Prospect Park Skating Rink [Brooklyn Paper]
Thanks to the philanthropist who donated $10 million. I think of all the rich people’s money being given to data-manipulating charter schools and wish more of it would go toward projects like this.
Problem with this sort of thing is all the noise. The old rink was terrible with what they must think is “music” blasting around the park. For those who go to parks seeking the beauty of nature and quiet, many areas of the park became useless. The rink is a commercial thing which has no place in a public park.
I’m psyched about this! I only skate 2-3 times a year and usually have at least one tumble that makes me look I was in a hit-and-run. The old rink was incredibly heavily used by communities from all over Brooklyn so I’m excited to see it replaced. Just because we’re in a recession doesn’t mean we should let our public amenities crumble. Just the opposite and this will at least create/keep jobs for some. It’s an amazingly beautiful location and I have often watched with pure joy as skaters make their circuits: young parents with tiny tots; older couples still spry and graceful; teens hot-dogging and flirting with each other; Hasidic girls in matching plaid skirts skating in a chain…
Thanks for the extra info, that helps! I really do think it’s a great project, I just hope the skating fees can stay affordable for all.
The cost of the Lakeside Center project is not 70M to build 2 skating rinks. Rather, an estimated 70M is needed to construct “a 26,000-square-foot building of indoor and outdoor space with two rinks (32,000-square-feet in total skating surface), that will accommodate an estimated 300% increase in year-round site usage. By demolishing the old Wollman Rink (built in 1960), and constructing a new facility on the site of the existing parking lot, five acres will be added to the Lake as well as three adjacent acres of park land.”
For a more detailed description of the project, go to: http://www.prospectpark.org/lakeside
Also, the project is not being totally financed with public funds. While I can’t cite the funding breakdown, I do know that a substantial amount of funds for this project have been raised/will be raised from foundations, corporations, and individual donors.
This project was in the works long before the current economic crisis began. For a truly healthy, thriving environment, high density urban zones — like Brooklyn, New York — need wide open, green, public spaces as much as they need teachers, firemen and other municipal workers.
Thank goodness for union labor! Would you want a massive a project of this scope and complexity to be built by day workers recruited at Home Depot?
“why do projects like this cost so much”
Union labor.
I’m excited for this but I agree – why do projects like this cost so much and for not even an indoor rink? I wonder if the admission prices (which were very reasonable) will double now?
Looks beautiful. Seems a bit much though given the current economic state of the city. When we are talking about laying off teachers and firemen and spending $70 million on a skating rink, it seems excessive and wasteful.
Better idea for a brownstoner party: Skeet shooting in Prospect Park, but with live geese instead of clay targets.