Wollman Rink is the big open-air ice rink tucked into the southeast corner of Central Park, just a short walk in from 59th Street and 6th Avenue. In winter, it’s one of those places where New York feels like a movie set: skaters circling under floodlights, trees framing the ice, and Midtown towers glowing in the background.
Today it’s run by Wollman Park Partners, a public–private group that took over after the city ended its contract with the Trump Organization in 2021. They’ve since added new programming, food options, and even warm-weather uses like pickleball and roller events—but the core winter experience is still pure, old-school NYC skating.
Where It Is and How to Get There
- Location: Near Central Park’s southeast corner; the closest entrance is at 59th Street & 6th Avenue (Central Park South).
- Address for maps: 830 5th Ave, New York, NY 10065 (Central Park).
From that entrance, you follow the park paths downhill for a few minutes; the rink opens up below you, with bleachers on one side and skyline on the other.
Subway options from most of Manhattan are easy: N/R/W or Q to 57th Street–7th Ave, F to 57th, or multiple lines into Columbus Circle and a short walk across. Buses running along 59th Street drop you even closer.
Skating Season, Hours, and Tickets
Ice skating season at Wollman Rink typically runs from late October through mid-March. For the 2025–2026 season, Central Park’s official listings and the rink’s own site put the dates at roughly October 26, 2025 to March 15, 2026, open seven days a week.
A recent schedule looks like this (always double-check before you go, because hours can shift):
- Monday–Tuesday: 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
- Wednesday–Thursday: 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- Friday–Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 or 11:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
There’s usually an opening weekend “Community Days” promo where skating is free with advance community tickets, then the regular ticketed season starts, with tiered prices for off-peak, peak, and prime times. Recent seasons have set adult general admission around the mid-teens off-peak and up into the high-20s/30s at prime times; kids and seniors are cheaper, and skate rentals cost extra.
You can:
- Bring your own skates or rent on-site
- Rent a locker for bags
- Book lessons or group events through the rink’s site
What It Feels Like on the Ice
Compared to Rockefeller Center, Wollman Rink feels more spacious and more “park-y.” The ice sheet is big and more oval than square, with trees on one side and towers on the other, so you get that classic “nature meets city” view that shows up in postcards and movies.
Typical experience:
- You enter through the ticket area and rental counters.
- Bleachers and viewing platforms ring the rink, so friends can watch without skating.
- Music plays over the speakers, especially in the evenings.
- Lights reflect off the ice while the skyline glows behind the trees.
For visitors, it’s a “you know you’re in New York” moment; for locals, it’s a winter reset button—especially on clear, cold nights when you can see every star and every office window at once.
Warm-Weather Transformations: Roller Disco & Pickleball
Wollman Rink doesn’t just shut down once the ice melts. In recent years, it’s been turned into a summer entertainment venue:
- In 2022–23, it hosted DiscOasis, a neon-lit roller disco with DJs, lights, and themed skate nights. Photos from that season show a rainbow-bright rink with disco balls and a full stage in the middle.
- Starting in 2023, the city partnered with CityPickle to turn the rink into a pickleball hub between April and October. Temporary courts attracted tens of thousands of players, and NYC Parks has since announced a plan for 14 permanent courts under the ice so the space can support both winter skating and warm-season pickleball.
That dual use is part of a push to make the rink feel like a year-round public space instead of a single-season tourist attraction.
Who Runs Wollman Rink Now (and What Changed)
For decades, the rink was closely associated with the Trump Organization, which took over in the 1980s after stepping in to complete a renovation. That contract ended in 2021, when New York City severed several agreements with the company.
The city then awarded a five-year operating contract to Wollman Park Partners LLC, a joint venture including Related Companies, Equinox, and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment. They invested in upgrades, added new community programs, and reopened the rink with a modernized clubhouse in November 2021.
More recently, NYC Parks has moved toward a long-term 20-year concession with an affiliate called Wollman Park Partners II, rejecting a bid by the Trump Organization to retake the rink. The draft deal, valued at over $100 million in payments and capital investment, is going through city approval and is set to take full effect in 2027, with the current contract extended to bridge the gap.
There’s been some political drama around who should run the rink—Central Park Conservancy proposed its own major investment plan and criticized the city’s approach in op-eds—but the basic takeaway for skaters is that the rink is operating, funded, and being upgraded, with a clear plan to keep it open in coming years.
Community Programs and Access
Under Wollman Park Partners, the rink has leaned into the “for all New Yorkers” angle:
- Community Days at the start of the season with free admission for anyone who reserves a ticket.
- The Wollman Rink Access Program, which offers discounted or free skating opportunities with partner nonprofits, youth groups, and community organizations.
- Partnerships with local schools and charities to bring kids who might not otherwise get to skate in Central Park.
The idea is to balance tourist demand with genuine neighborhood access, so the space doesn’t feel like a gated attraction sitting inside a public park.
Comparing Wollman Rink to Rockefeller Center
If you’re planning a winter trip to New York, you’ll see two rinks pop up over and over: Rockefeller Center and Wollman Rink. Both are iconic, but the vibes are a little different:
- Rockefeller Center
- Smaller rink, tightly framed by buildings and the big Christmas tree
- Very dense, urban feel with crowds and lights all around
- Right in Midtown, easy to pair with shopping on Fifth Avenue
- Wollman Rink
- Larger sheet of ice, more space to actually skate
- Nature + skyline combo: trees, rock outcrops, and city towers
- Feels more like a “Central Park moment” than a straight-up storefront attraction
Many visitors end up doing both: Rock Center for the tree and the “wow, this is in every Christmas movie” shot, and Wollman for a longer, more relaxed skate in the park.
Simple Tips for Visiting
If you and I were planning a day around Wollman Rink, here’s how we’d make it easy:
- Book Ahead in Peak Season
- December and holiday weeks get busy. Online tickets help avoid long waits and sellouts at popular times.
- Aim for Off-Peak if You Want Space
- Weekday mornings and early afternoons are usually quieter and cheaper than weekend evenings or prime holiday nights.
- Dress Like You’ll Be Outside for a While
- It’s open-air, and Central Park can feel windier than the surrounding streets. Layers, gloves, and warm socks make a big difference.
- Combine It With a Park Walk
- Before or after skating, wander up the Mall and Literary Walk, see Bethesda Terrace, or loop past the Central Park Zoo. Many guides put Wollman Rink in their “top things to see” list precisely because it anchors a full park afternoon.
- Check for Special Events
- Theme nights, live DJs, and community events pop up all season. The official site and social feeds announce these ahead of time.
Why Wollman Rink Sticks With People
Part of the rink’s magic is contrast. You’re in the middle of Manhattan, but under your blades there’s ice, ahead of you there’s a stand of trees, and just beyond that, there’s a wall of glass and steel. On a clear winter night you can see stars over the park and office lights flickering on and off over the skyline.
That mix—city energy, open sky, and simple, looping movement around the rink—is why Wollman Rink keeps showing up in films, travel guides, and family stories. It’s not just an ice surface. It’s one of the places where New York City feels both big and small at the same time.
