Lasker Rink is gone. Sorta. If you’ve walked through the northern end of Central Park lately—specifically near 110th Street—you’ve probably noticed a giant, muddy crater where the concrete used to be. For decades, Lasker Rink New York was the grittier, more "local" alternative to the glitz of Wollman Rink or the tourist trap at Rockefeller Center. It was the place where Harlem kids learned to play hockey, where high schoolers went on cheap dates, and where the community actually felt like it owned a piece of the park. Now, it's the centerpiece of a $160 million renovation project that is fundamentally changing how we use the park’s northern landscape.
It’s weird. Central Park is usually so static, yet this specific corner is in a state of total flux.
The rink, originally named the Loula D. Lasker Memorial Rink and Pool, opened back in 1966. It was a bit of a weird architectural flex for the time. They built it right on top of the Loch, essentially acting as a dam for the Harlem Meer. It was a massive concrete bunker that blocked the natural flow of water and sightlines. For fifty years, people just accepted it because, hey, where else were you going to find an Olympic-sized pool in the summer and two ice sheets in the winter for a reasonable price? But the infrastructure was failing. The pipes were leaking. The cooling system was basically held together by duct tape and prayers toward the end.
Why Lasker Rink New York Needed to Die to Be Reborn
Let’s be honest: Lasker was kind of an eyesore. It was a giant rectangle of mid-century functionalism that didn't really fit Frederick Law Olmsted’s original vision for a "pastoral" escape. The Central Park Conservancy, along with NYC Parks, realized that they couldn't just patch the holes anymore. The facility was literally sinking into the sediment of the Meer.
When they started the "Harlem Meer Center" project (the official new name, though everyone will probably still call it Lasker for a decade), the goal wasn't just to fix the ice. It was to fix the hydrology. By tearing down the old bunker, they are finally allowing the Ravine’s water to flow naturally into the Meer for the first time in over half a century. It’s a massive win for the local ecosystem, even if it means we’ve had to go several winters without a place to skate uptown.
The project is massive. We’re talking about a complete reimagining of the site. The new facility is being designed by Susan T. Rodriguez and Mitchell Giurgola. Instead of a concrete wall, the new structure will be tucked into the slope of the land. It’s going to have a "green roof" that people can actually walk on. Imagine skating or swimming, but instead of looking at a chain-link fence and a gray wall, you’re looking at the natural curves of the park. It’s a huge shift in philosophy.
The Hockey Community’s Struggle
You can't talk about Lasker Rink without talking about the Central Park North Stars or the Hockey in Harlem program. For these kids, Lasker wasn't just a rink. It was a second home. When the rink closed for demolition in 2021, it created a massive void.
Hockey is already an insanely expensive sport. When you take away the most accessible rink in Manhattan, you're basically telling a whole generation of city skaters that they have to commute to Riverbank State Park or trek out to Long Island City just to get ice time at 6:00 AM. It’s been tough. The Conservancy has tried to mitigate this, but honestly, there's no easy way to replace two full sheets of ice in the middle of a crowded island. The promise of the new Harlem Meer Center is that it will return even better facilities to these programs, but the four-year gap is a long time in the life of a high school athlete.
What to Expect from the New Harlem Meer Center
The new design is pretty slick. It's not just a rink.
- A New Pool/Rink Hybrid: The pool will be transformed into a skating rink in the winter, just like before, but the transition will be more seamless.
- A "Broadwalk": A new pedestrian path will wrap around the water, connecting the East and West sides of the park more naturally.
- Environmental Restoration: They are restoring the shoreline of the Meer, which has been crumbling for years.
- Sustainability: The building is aiming for LEED Gold certification. It’s going to use passive cooling and heating where possible.
The pool itself is going to be a "beach-entry" style, which is great for accessibility. It makes the water feel more like a natural extension of the park rather than a giant bathtub. If you've ever stood in the long line on a 95-degree day in July at the old Lasker, you know how desperate the neighborhood is for this space.
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The Timeline: When Can We Actually Skate?
Everything in New York takes longer than it should. That’s just the rule. The project broke ground in late 2021. The projected completion date has consistently hovered around 2024 or 2025. As of early 2026, we are finally seeing the finishing touches on the structural elements. It’s been a long road of supply chain issues and specialized construction—building at the bottom of a bowl next to a lake isn't exactly easy engineering.
People get frustrated. I get it. You see the fences and the "Construction: Keep Out" signs for three years and you start to wonder if it’s ever coming back. But seeing the wood-timbered ceilings of the new pavilion start to take shape? It’s starting to look like the wait might actually be worth it. This isn't just a repair job; it's a legacy project.
The Cultural Impact of the North End
There’s a weird tension in Central Park between the "Manicured South" and the "Wild North." Most tourists never make it past the Reservoir. They stay down by Bethesda Terrace and the Strawberry Fields. But the area around Lasker Rink New York has always belonged to the residents of Harlem and the Upper West Side.
Lasker was the great equalizer. On a Saturday in February, you’d see Wall Street guys in $800 skates getting bumped by kids who borrowed their gear from the community center. It lacked the pretension of the downtown rinks. You didn't have to pay $35 for a ticket and another $20 for skates. It was affordable. The fear, obviously, with any $160 million renovation is that the prices will skyrocket and the "local" feel will vanish. The Conservancy insists that the mission remains public access, and they better stick to that. New York needs spaces that aren't just for the elite.
Safety and Accessibility
The old facility was a maze of stairs and cramped locker rooms. If you were a parent with a stroller or someone using a wheelchair, Lasker was a nightmare to navigate. The new design puts a massive emphasis on ADA compliance. Everything is being built on a grade that allows for easy movement between the street level and the water level. This is a big deal. The North End of the park has some of the most dramatic elevation changes, and the new Harlem Meer Center is designed to bridge that gap rather than create a barrier.
Practical Advice for Visiting the Area Now
If you’re heading up there today, don't expect to find a place to put on skates. The area is still a construction zone. However, the surrounding Harlem Meer area is still one of the most beautiful parts of the park.
- Check out the Dana Discovery Center: It’s right across the water. They often have community programs and it's the best place to get a view of how the construction is progressing.
- Walk the Ravine: Just south of the rink site is the Ravine and the Loch. It’s the closest you’ll get to feeling like you’re in the Adirondacks without leaving Manhattan.
- Use the 110th St Entrance: The 2/3 train drops you right at the gate. It’s much easier than trying to hike up from the 96th street area.
The "hidden" secret of this area is the catch-and-release fishing at the Meer. You can borrow poles at the Dana Center (when in season). It’s a surreal experience to pull a largemouth bass out of the water while the 2/3 train rumbles underground nearby.
The Future of Public Spaces
What’s happening with the rink is a case study in how cities handle aging infrastructure. We could have just patched the old Lasker. It would have cost $20 million and lasted another ten years before breaking again. Instead, the city opted for a generational shift. They chose to undo a mistake from the 60s and restore the natural flow of the park.
It’s a bold move. It’s expensive. It’s inconvenient for the thousands of people who relied on that ice. But in fifty years, nobody is going to miss the concrete bunker. They’re going to be sitting on a grassy slope, watching the water flow from the hills into the lake, wondering why anyone ever thought building a dam there was a good idea in the first place.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to stay updated or get involved with the future of the rink, here is what you should actually do:
- Monitor the Central Park Conservancy Website: They post quarterly updates on the "Harlem Meer Center" progress. Don't trust random blogs; get the timeline straight from the source.
- Support Hockey in Harlem: This non-profit is the soul of the rink. They’ve been displaced for years and need donations and volunteers more than ever to keep their programs running at alternative locations.
- Visit the North Woods: While the rink is closed, explore the 40 acres of forest right next to it. It’s the best way to appreciate why the restoration of the water flow matters so much for the park's health.
- Prepare for Reopening: Keep an eye on the "NYC Parks" pool registration for the summer of 2026. If things stay on track, the inaugural season for the new pool will be the hottest ticket in the city.