Getting the LeFrak Center Right — and What That Means for Programs That Have Been There for Years
Big changes are coming to the LeFrak Center!
Lola Star, the founder of Dreamland Roller Rink, has hosted a weekly rollerskating event at the LeFrak Center in Prospect Park for the past 10 years. The disco-themed events attract hundreds of roller skaters each month. “Our goal is to bring people together. We really try to cultivate community and leave people feeling transformed by this experience of collective joy,” says Star, who has owned a home in Prospect Park South for the last 18 years.
The LeFrak Center, located at Prospect Park’s Parkside and Ocean Avenue entrances, is a borough icon, serving as a vibrant community hub and year-round recreational space for New York City families. “It's one of the most popular attractions in Prospect Park,” says Council Member Shahana Hanif, who represents NYC's 39th Council District, including several neighborhoods surrounding Prospect Park. “My team and I have used the LeFrak Center to bring our community together.”
Opened in 2013, the LEED-certified, 25,000-square-foot facility features two open-air ice skating rinks, one of which converts to a rollerskating rink, where Star hosts her events between March and October, and the other a splash pad typically open from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The site is also home to Bluestone Cafe, an outdoor dining space, arcade room, and multi-purpose rooms that can be used for private events.
The Prospect Park Alliance (PPA), the nonprofit group that supports and operates Prospect Park, released two requests for proposals (RFPs) for services at the LeFrak Center on November 18th, 2024. One is for a new Recreational Programming Operator and the other is for a Food & Beverage Operator.
This isn’t the first third-party operator to take on the LeFrak Center. Following a request for proposals process that began in 2012, Upsilon Ventures, a Westchester County-based firm, has overseen operations at the LeFrak Center since 2014.
Many residents want a say in this next phase of the tax-payer-funded facility. Their gripes are not about new operators taking over — in fact, they’re ready for change and say the facility hasn’t lived up to its potential under Upsilon’s management. They want the events, activities, and food to reflect the people and community who use it most.
“I think it's really important that any developments or changes in the park are aligned with the needs of the users and the community,” says Terésa Stern, Windsor Terrace resident and monthly donor and member of the PPA. “Once it's turned over to private hands, we have no idea whether they're going to continue to pay attention to the community's needs and preferences.”
Star also shares this concern. “My fear is that another corporation is going to come in who doesn't have any real ties to the Brooklyn community, doesn't understand the people.”
The Recreational Programming Operator will be responsible for ice- and roller-skating operations, skate rentals, lessons, leagues, rink maintenance, bike and boat rentals, and more. The Food & Beverage Operator will run the cafe and offer food that is “interesting and reflect[s] the diversity of New York City, especially the neighborhoods and communities bordering the East side of the park,” according to the RFP.
The selected operators will function under a sublicense agreement with PPA for a five-year term, beginning in May 2025 and extending through July 17, 2030. The RFP states the “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, with Parks approval.”
While the RFP states that rollerskating will remain a focal point of the programming under new management, Star says she wants the PPA to emphasize the local small businesses that have hosted popular events at LeFrak for years — not just her business but also Gotham Roller Derby, Hard Pass NYC, and others. When Star asked the PPA if they would “put in a good word for us or make that a condition that the new operator has to continue working with us,” they said no.
The concern over a large corporation taking over the rollerskating programming at the LeFrak Center is not unfounded. Just look at the Pier 2 Roller Rink at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Star applied to be the operator of Pier 2, but she says United Stakes of America — a chain of rollerskating rinks with venues all over the country — won the contract. And then there’s Wollman Rink in Central Park, which houses 14 pickleball courts run by CityPickle during the summer. “I think it's really a shame what happened at Wollman Rink…that really should have been a roller rink in the summertime,” says Star.
When Star attended a tour of the LeFrak Center for potential operators, she spoke with representatives from CityPickle. “They said they are applying to transform the rink from a roller rink into a pickleball court in the summer. So, that's concerning.”
Council Member Hanif has worked with the PPA for years and appreciates how “thoughtful and intentional” the RFP process has been. “Right now, with the conditions of our country and our city, the Alliance really tries to fold in solidarity,” says CM Hanif. “I absolutely support involving our local vendors and creators to be part of this next chapter of the LeFrak Center. This is something that my office prioritizes. I annually host a fun run there with the parent-teacher association [that] includes local teen bands, various artists, and food distributors. It feels like our community is coming together, but also supporting one another in our efforts to have a stronger community.”
Star said that PPA had not sought comments or feedback from the broader community — but she has. “I posted on neighborhood pages for Kensington, Ditmas Park, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, and Park Slope, and I got some really amazing feedback.” One idea from the Prospect Lefferts Gardens community is to provide opportunities for local restaurants, especially Guatemalan and Caribbean establishments, to sell their food at the LeFrak Center. Star envisions the food and beverage operation forming into “a cultural destination, rather than what it has been, which is stale, corporate, soulless. Just subpar food that's very expensive.” Another repeated request is to bring back the early morning skating sessions.
There’s also the matter of maintenance and upkeep of the physical space. Star says she’s pointed out the degrading conditions of the facility to the PPA several times, and members of the neighborhood groups also said they’ve emailed the PPA about the facility's conditions.
While the PPA hasn’t responded to Star’s requests to share the feedback she’s collected, the PPA is hiring a director to oversee the day-to-day maintenance and operations of the LeFrak Center to address some of these issues.
On December 17, 2013, when the Samuel J. and Ethel LeFrak Center was unveiled, Michael R. Bloomberg, the mayor at the time, said, “It will benefit the local community and all who use the park from neighborhoods across the city — and all those who come here from around the world to experience the best of Brooklyn.”
As luck would have it, some of the best of Brooklyn is already at the LeFrack Center, reflecting the community's character, one pink tutu dress at a time. “My ties to this venue run deep. It’s not just a place of business for me — it’s a space I’ve poured my heart into, helping to create memories and experiences that bring people together,” says Star.
The PPA refused a request to be interviewed for this article on January 27th, 2025.
(Top photo by Michael Moran/OTTO; Splash pad photo via the Prospect Park Alliance; Roller Disco photo and Gotham Derby photo via Lakeside Brooklyn Instagram; Facility/Equipment conditions photos and photos of Lola Star courtesy of Lola Star.)
UPDATE: After this article was published, the PPA contacted me via email with the following statement:
Prospect Park Alliance is excited about the upcoming changes we are making to operations at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, which has served as a cherished community destination for over a decade.
Our approach includes new operators for the recreational amenities and for the cafe, as well as the appointment of new Alliance staff positions: a LeFrak Center Director and an on-site team that will oversee operations and ensure an excellent visitor experience. These efforts have been informed by feedback we have received from the community.
Having surpassed its 10-year mark, this heavily used facility has experienced significant wear and tear, which we have been addressing over the course of the past year. To date, we have begun renovations to the Splash Pad, the restrooms and lighting on site, among other improvements, all of which will continue this year to keep the rink in a state of good repair.
In terms of programming at the Center, we will be making connections for all the stakeholders with the new operators once they are in place, and we have communicated this to all bidders as well as to our current stakeholders. 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.
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Thanks so much for reading this week! I’m grateful for your support. Hope you’re enjoying the fresh snow!
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This article clearly identifies the value LeFrak has to the community, and the importance of keeping it aligned with community values and interests. Great read!
LeFrak is my favorite winter ice rink so I hope the new operators are competent.