Skaters on Central Park’s two rinks are devastated that this weekend will be their last on the ice this season – and angry with Mayor de Blasio for closing Trump-run rinks early, despite his political nemesis.
The Post made the news Saturday that the Lasker and Wollman ice rinks will close on Sunday, six weeks before their typical April closing dates.
Last month, Hizzoner announced that he was scrapping the city’s contracts with the Trump Organization, because then-President Trump had encouraged rioters to storm the Capitol.
Trump’s business group, run by his sons Donald Jr. and Eric, has managed the ice rinks for over 30 years.
Skaters who hit the ice on Saturday told The Post that they felt like pawns in De Blasio’s political game.
“The real people they hurt are the 2,500 children who benefited from the skating program this season and the 250 innocent employees who have kept this up for us,” said Lee Krausner, 49, looking at her two daughters.
Also on Saturday, the Trump organization posted a letter about closing a door at Wollman Rink.
Next to the letter was a message about a petition to prevent the ice rink from closing prematurely. The petition, started by figure skater Serena Sabet, had more than 1,700 signatures on Saturday afternoon.
“I was so angry. I’ve literally skated here since I was 3 years old. We know everyone here, it’s like a second family,” said Sabet, 18, who was at the rink on Saturday. “This is our senior year. So many things have already been screwed up. “
Marc Weitzman, who has taught figure skating at Wollman for 12 years, told The Post that De Blasio’s decision will affect the young skaters more than Trump.
“I understand politics, I get it, but I think the kids and all of us who teach here in this particular situation end up getting hurt,” said Weitzman, 44.
The park department is looking for a new concessionaire to operate the ice rinks, but proposals for the rink won’t arrive until March 19. The city also plans to break contracts with the Trump Organization for the Central Park Carousel and Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point. the Bronx.
The mayor’s office was unable to explain on Friday why no other concessionaire was found before the rinks closed, and did not respond to inquiries from The Post on Saturday.
‘I wish someone from town would record the tabs. Bloomberg, or whoever, one of the big companies, so the kids don’t have to suffer, ”said Francois Ragot, 50, whose son has played hockey at Lasker for the past ten years.
“It was very sad,” he said. “Last night the kids were playing hockey and we found out there are no games for the rest of the season.”