Central Park

The Daily Plant : Thursday, March 28, 2002

PARKIES GO AROUND AND AROUND

Commissioner Adrian Benepe hosted Parkies young and old on Monday night at the "Parks Evening of Ice Skating." Held at Wollman Rink in Central Park, just a short walk from the Arsenal, about 250 people attended the free event for some winter fun before the rink closes on Saturday, March 30. Parkies from across the city were invited with their families, to enjoy.

The young, and the young at heart, skated in circles around the rink to the soothing sounds of classical music, as request by Commissioner Benepe. Laura Gaul, Commissioner Benepe’s Deputy Chief of Staff, "was surprised by the high level of skating that certain Parkies displayed at the party." In the center of the rink a small area was created for advanced skaters who wanted to imitate Sarah Hughes’ Gold medal-winning performance at this year’s Winter Olympics.

Thanks to a generous donation from Relish Caterers, the food concessionaire at Wollman Rink, there was free hot chocolate, pretzels, and fountain soda. Wollman Rink, one of six skating rinks on Park property in New York City, was built in 1949. Commissioner Robert Moses provided the vision and Kate Wollman, daughter of a wealthy stockbroker, contributed the funds, $600,000 in total. Before it was built, New Yorkers skated on the lake just 10 blocks north of here. Officials used red flags to signal to the public that the ice was strong enough for skating. Now, an average of 4,000 people skate at Wollman Rink. The Trump Organization actually runs the rink and gave it to us to hold this private party.

(Thursday, April 6, 1989)

Parks has chosen a private concessionaire to build a newsstand at the northeast corner of Sixth Avenue and Third Street in Manhattan. In building the stand, the concessionaire will follow a design that won first prize at the newsstand design competition, NEWSSTAND88, sponsored by the New York Chapters of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA).

The newsstand, with two central poles, several display cases and shelves that can be folded into the newsstand at closing, was designed to be easily accessible to customers and harmonious with its environment.

"A wise man is superior to any insults which can be put upon him,
and the best reply to unseemly behavior is patience and moderation."

Moliere
(1755-1794)

Know Before You Go

Harlem Meer Center (formerly Lasker Rink)

Harlem Meer Center