For over 10 years, the LeFrak Center at Lakeside in Prospect Park has been at the heart of Brooklyn's skating community. Whether it is roller skating or ice skating, the rinks have drawn thousands of Brooklynites for recreational fun and social events.
But as the Prospect Park Alliance, the nonprofit that oversees the operations of the park, looks for new recreational and vending operators, some in the Brooklyn skating community are fearful that the skating rinks as they know it will change.
The Alliance in November sent out two Requests for Proposals (RFP) for the LeFrak Center, one for a Food and Beverage Operator, the other for a Recreational Programming Operator. Currently, Upsilon Ventures LLC, a firm based in Larchmont, N.Y., is in charge of programming, while Bluestone Cafe runs concessions.
Since the announcement of the RFPs, concern for the next operators has weighed heavily on Brooklyn's roller skating community, and especially for Lola Star, the founder of Dreamland Roller Rink, which has been holding weekly rollerskating events for nearly 10 years.
"I love LeFrak so much," Star said. "New York has a rich rollerskating community and there's no other option for us. We are all trying to advocate and we're wondering what we'd do if we lose the LeFrak."
One reason for Star's concern has been her inability to contribute to the PPA's search for a new operator. She claims the Alliance has declined to work with her despite her offers.
Jen Green, a skater who has taken part in Star's weekly rollerskating events for 10 years, also said the Alliance has not been listening to groups that have provided skating programs at LeFrak for years, including from the Gotham Roller Derby club.
The Gotham Roller Derby did not respond to requests for comment.
According to the RFP, "the newly contracted Operator will be responsible for ice- and roller-skating operations...PPA is also open to considering proposals that include other programmatic uses outside of the ice skating season that will benefit the public and fit the needs of the site, while maintaining roller skating as a key programmatic element."
Star said she is afraid that skating might take a back seat to other recreational sports like pickleball, which has seen explosive growth in the city.
Scott and Catherine Lindeman, two skating regulars, compared the pickleball courts popping up around the city to Starbucks.
"Does every neighborhood really need pickleball?" Catherine Lindeman added. "Pickleball is a fad."
Scott Lindeman also said that a letter the couple sent to the Alliance about the importance of keeping the rollerskating rink "fell on deaf ears."
The Lindemans, Green and Star said that if pickleball courts or other recreational activities are chosen for the warm weather months, the rollerskating rink might be shut down. Currently, there are two ice skating rinks during the winter and during the warmer months, one of the rinks becomes a roller rink while the other turns into the Splash Pad, a water play spot for children.
Star also said the new food operator should take into consideration the large Caribbean community in nearby Prospect Lefferts Gardens and Flatbush, and it would be a great opportunity to help local small business operators thrive in their own neighborhood.
"The rink is owned by taxpayers," Star said. "So it should provide for the community."
In a statement to BK Reader, Prospect Park Alliance said that finding a new recreational operator has not been easy because the "skating rink operations is a very specialized field, so there are a limited number of companies that can deliver these specific services."
The Alliance also said it will make sure to introduce the current stakeholders with the new operators.
"We would like to see the programs that have been cherished by the community continue, and new programs be considered that would be welcomed by our diverse community members and enrich their park experience," the Alliance said.
The new operators are expected to be announced later this month.
