February 17, 2006

Bryant Park ice rink seeks longer season next winter

The ice rink at Bryant Park will return next winter, possibly with an extra three weeks of skating if Fashion Week can be persuaded to push back its event to the end of February, organizers said.

The Pond is the official name for the Olympic-sized temporary ice rink set up for the first time at Bryant Park in October. It drew 120,663 skaters by the time it closed in mid-January, Jerome Barth, the director of operations for Bryant Park Restoration Corporation, told NewYorkology today.

Of those, 25.8 percent had their own skates with them so they got to skate for free, bypassing the $7.50 rental charge, he said.

The Pond drew a lot of people who live or work in the city, with heavy use during lunchtime and before and after work, according to Maureen Andary, an events associate with the Bryant Park Restoration Corp. "It was mostly locals," she told NewYorkology. "I think only tourists go skate at Rockefeller Center."

Skating at Bryant Park was free due in part to the primary sponsorship by Citi, which is on board for next year, Barth said.

Barth said he's planning some changes for next year to improve The Pond, such as extending weekend skating hours, changing the layout to enhance spectator viewing and better customer service.

He's still negotiating a contract with Fashion Week, which fills the park with massive tents packed with catwalks, celebrities and fashionistas previewing the fall collections. This year's Fashion Week was held February 3 through 10. Barth would like to push it back to its old start date at the end of February, he said.

Earlier: Top 10 new things to do in NYC this season
Bryant Park ice rink already making Top 10 lists
Bryant Park opens The Pond for winter ice skating
Free ice rink to open at Bryant Park in late October
Bryant Park hopes to install ice rink next winter

February 17, 2006 03:41 PM in Kids, Midtown, Sightsology, Sports

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