Wollman Rink 1858
Skating on Wollman Rink is a winter tradition for New Yorkers and tourists alike, so many people have tied up their skates for the very first time on this ice. Ice skating is a long-standing and beloved tradition here in Central Park — as old as the Park itself.
The first part of Central Park to open to the public was the Lake, in 1858. Soon after, skaters filled the 59th Street Pond as well. Wollman Rink opened in 1950, a 33,000-square-foot venue built with a gift from Kate Wollman.