Tag: Lakeside

c. Harpers Weekly

The “Beautiful Spectacle” of Skating Carnivals

January 14, 2019

Long before Prospect Park Alliance opened the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, the park’s state-of-the-art skating rink, Brooklynites would wait for temperatures to drop and then flock by the tens of thousands to Prospect Park’s 60-acre Lake to enjoy this winter recreation, with crowds as many as 20,000 skaters on peak days.

A Brooklyn Daily Eagle article from February 7, 1881, reports:

The ice on the Prospect Park lake is eighteen inches thick. Yesterday it was crowded all day, and by the afternoon the surface was rather badly cut up by the steel runners of the skaters. The ice is swept at night after the skaters leave and flooded a little, so as to make a smooth, even surface in the morning. The skaters are allowed to remain until 11 o’clock on all except Sunday nights, when the ice is cleared at about 9 o’clock.

With so many people flocking to the ice, and with periodic warm spells midwinter, the scene at the Lake was often chaotic. Collisions between skaters and slips through thin patches of ice were not uncommon, and “keepers” uniformed in blue kept watch over the crowds.

By the early 1900’s, the city was staging “skating carnivals” as reported on in the January 2, 1915, edition of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle:

Brooklyn was treated to a new and beautiful spectacle last night, when the Park Department permitted a skating carnival to be held on the Prospect Park lake. In the light of the full moon and with a thousand Chinese lanterns strung around the big body of water, 10,000 men, women and children flitted to and fro on the flashing steel runners. Some of them even danced on the ice.

skating_carnival_archive_nyhistsoc.png

Photo of lanterns around frozen Prospect Park lake, c. New York Historical Society.

In the 1930’s and ’40’s, as all kinds of ice sports became increasingly popular, these “carnivals” became daytime sporting events with thousands watching from the shore, including ice hockey matches between teams from Brooklyn Technical High School and Manual Training High School (later called John Jay High School), speed-skating races and figure-skating displays. The carnivals even had an Ice Carnival King and Queen.

ice_carnival_king_queen_archives.png

The 1936 Ice Carnival King and Queen, c. Prospect Park Archives.

Today, New Yorkers can experience with thrill of gliding over the ice throughout the season at Prospect Park’s LeFrak Center at Lakeside. And while skating on the Lake is no longer permitted, Lakeside’s two rinks are just yards from the water’s edge, and visitors need only a bit of imagination to relive those festive nights over 100 years ago.

Martin Seck

Unleash Your Inner Olympian at Lakeside

February 9, 2018

As the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games heat up, many of us are feeling inspired to satisfy our own Olympic ambitions. At the LeFrak Center at Lakeside in Prospect Park, visitors can try figure skating, hockey and even the more obscure sport of curling, without ever leaving Brooklyn!

Curling
Curling is a sport which suffers from the popular misperception that it is easy. While slow moving in comparison to many of its Olympic compatriots, this sport requires balance, precision and a knack with a broom. Originated in medieval Scotland, curling is a game in which players, wearing grippy shoes, slide polished, 44-pound granite stones toward a circular target marked on the ice. Long popular in Canada, curling has been enjoying a wider revival since being added to the Olympic games in 1998, and has sparked a devoted following in Brooklyn.
The LeFrak Center is home to the official Brooklyn Lakeside Curling Club, and currently the LeFrak Center is offering weekly classes for those interested in trying the sport. Learn more about Curling at Lakeside.

Figure Skating
If you love watching figure skating in prime time, you’ll enjoy it even more in person at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, spangled spandex costumes encouraged! The third annual Lakeside Open Competition takes place on February 25, and members of the public are invited to watch this exciting event free of charge. Figure skaters can take to the ice in freestyle sessions, sign up for lessons or perform in the Spring Show. Learn more about Figure Skating at Lakeside.

Hockey
Hockey isn’t just for the pros! You can get into the game at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside with clinics and open hockey sessions, and Youth and Adult league play. Sessions are coed and hockey enthusiasts of all levels can gain experience. Learn more.

Broomball
Don’t know how to skate, but want to score a goal? You’re in luck! Broomball, on offer Friday nights at the LeFrak Center, is played in sneakers on ice.

And, if organized sport isn’t your preference but you want to get out on the ice, the LeFrak Center at Lakeside is open for ice skating seven days a week. Learn more about visiting the LeFrak Center at Lakeside. 

Brittany Buongiorno

A Guide to Winter Activities in Prospect Park

December 14, 2016

Temperatures are hovering around freezing, the first snowflakes have fallen and here in Prospect Park, we say, “let it snow!” Are you ready for the cold-weather activities that we wait all year to enjoy? Here is our roundup of winter activities in the Park. 

Ice Skating
Strap on a pair of skates: the ice skating season at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside is in full swing! Come with friends for freestyle laps around the two rinks, or sign up for Skate School and learn the fundamentals of skating. Plus, Prospect Park Alliance members at the Supporter level or above can take advantage of Member Wednesdays and skate for free.

Sledding
When the city gets more than a few inches of snow, head to the Park to be among the multitudes that get a rush from sliding down our steep slopes. Bring a sled, toboggan or whatever your preference and check out a list of our top sledding spots in Prospect Park. 

Curling
Ready for a round of… curling? Believe it or not, the LeFrak Center at Lakeside is home to the official Brooklyn Lakeside Curling Club, which offers classes and tournaments. This sport, best known as an event in the Winter Olympics, is played in teams by players wearing shoes with grippers. Learn more about curling at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside. 

Figure Skating 
In addition to regular ice-skating, figure skating has found a home at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside. Figure skaters are encouraged to take to the ice in freestyle sessions, classes or during one of the shows, such as the Ice Spectacular, taking place Sunday, December 18. Learn more about figure skating at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside.

Cross-Country Skiing 
While not an “official” sport, cross-country skiing enthusiasts can’t wait for enough snow to strap on their skis and head out with smooth strides into the Park. Expanses like Long Meadow and the Nethermead are excellent locations to bring this traditionally rural pastime into city parks. 

Hockey 
Grab your pucks and pads! You can get into the game at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside with clinics, open hockey sessions, and (new this season!) Youth and Adult league play. Don’t know how to skate, but want to score a goal? Try Broomball Friday nights at Lakeside, played in sneakers on ice. Learn more about hockey at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside.

A Walk in the Park
There is no easier way to enjoy the serene and snowy season than with a walk in Prospect Park, no special skates, sticks, pads or gear required. Wander through the Park’s 585-acres, or let our curated Winter Walk guide your way on a tour up Lookout Hill, with views only available during this time of year. Learn more about the Winter Walk. 

Indoor Tennis
Snow and ice not quite your scene? Don’t worry; the Prospect Park Tennis Center has got you covered with heated indoor courts through mid-May. Participate in a variety of classes and leagues, or simply book a court to use with a friend. The Center will also offer special holiday programs during the Winter Recess. Learn more about the Tennis Center. 

New PPA Member Benefits at Lakeside

March 30, 2016

It’s always paid to be a Prospect Park Alliance member. Whether through invitations to members-only events, or discounts at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, membership helps Park visitors get the most out of their time in Brooklyn’s Backyard. To make membership even better, we’re thrilled to announce even more Prospect Park Alliance membership benefits at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, across every membership level.

Just in time for springtime fun, new member benefits include:

  • 10% season passes at Lakeside for ice skating, roller skating, bike rentals and boat rentals (Friend membership level and above)
  • Complimentary skating and discounted boat and bike rentals on PPA Wednesdays (Supporter membership level and above)
  • 10% off food and beverages at the Bluestone Café (Naturalist membership level and above)
  • And more! Learn about all of the great perks of PPA membership.

Support Prospect Park. Check out exclusive events. Skate for free. Become a member today, and spend your spring in style at Lakeside!

c. Michael Moran/OTTO

LeFrak Center at Lakeside Lauded with 2016 AIA Design Award

March 23, 2016

The Samuel J. and Ethel LeFrak Center at Lakeside has received numerous design awards since its creation, and that list is growing! The New York chapter of the American Institute of Architects recently named Lakeside one of its 2016 AIA Design Honor Award winners. The Center is also a National AIA Honor Award recipient, the highest honor in the field of architecture, as well as awards from the Municipal Arts Society and the New York Public Design Commission.

An exhibit featuring all 2016 AIANY award winners will open to the public at the Center for Architecture on April 15. This exhibit, located at 536 LaGuardia Place, will be open to the public through June 2016.

The Samuel J. and Ethel LeFrak Center at Lakeside is the largest and most ambitious project in Prospect Park since its creation nearly 150 years ago. Spanning 26 acres, this $74 million restoration by the Prospect Park Alliance transformed the southeast corner of the Park into a popular scenic and recreational destination. Designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, the center’s LEED Gold design blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, and is surrounded by acres of scenic beauty.

Since opening in 2013, the LeFrak Center has become a year-round community destination welcoming more than 200,000 visitors each year. The public can enjoy seasonal recreational activities, programming and special events, including ice skating, roller skating, boating, biking and free water play at the Park’s largest water feature, which was named New York Magazine’s 2015 “Best of New York.”

A Greener Lakeside

March 15, 2016

As part of its commitment to sustainable design, the Alliance recycled a significant amount of the construction waste when creating the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, including the soil, which was stored on site and proved to be the perfect growing ground for weeds. While the Alliance added a number of native trees, flowering shrubs, perennials  and grasses to the landscape as part of the project, these plants battle for air, light, water, space and nutrients with the weeds, which if left unchecked could reign supreme.

In a new strategy to combat weeds and ensure the continued beauty and diversity of the landscape, this past year Ronen Gamil, Assistant Gardener for the Prospect Park Alliance, saved seeds from several native grasses and perennials. Ronen harvested and cleaned the seeds after they dried on the plant, and then stored and planted the seeds this winter so they could be exposed to cold weather and better germinate this spring.

Thanks to Ronen, the Alliance was able to cultivate native species with great names and even greater ecological importance, like little bluestem, bee balm, gray goldenrod, foxglove beardtongue, whorled milkweed and sideoats grama (an endangered plant) within the Park. The planting of carefully saved seeds bolsters and even expands the native plants’ range. And the more native grasses present in the Park, the more competition for unwanted weeds. Saving seeds also increases the species’ genetic diversity, and yields better-adapted plants than those grown from purchased seedlings.

Seed saving requires thoroughness, so Ronen’s task is not an easy one. But with spring around the corner, and with it thousands of blooms, it’s easy to justify the hard work that goes into making it all possible. Take a stroll up to the green roof and, thanks to the abundance of native vegetation, it’s easy to forget you’re standing atop a state-of-the-art, and LEED Gold rated skating center in the nation’s largest city.

Swing by the LeFrak Center at Lakeside this spring to check out Ronen’s handiwork on the green roof!

Brooklyn Historical Society

From the Archives: Skating through History

January 20, 2016

After an unseasonably warm finale to 2015, winter has finally come to Prospect Park. However, the warmer weather didn’t stopped countless Brooklynites from enjoying the classic cold weather pastime of ice skating. At the LeFrak Center at Lakeside’s state-of-the-art rinks, skaters can glide on the ice all season long, regardless of Mother Nature’s plans.

This wasn’t always the case. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, eager skaters were forced to wait for a complete freeze of the Lake before taking to the ice. Because of fluctuations in temperature, Prospect Park visitors were notified of the Lake’s ability to accommodate skaters through creative means: a red flag hung at Grand Army Plaza, as well as signs on the fronts of the trolleys that used to traverse Flatbush Avenue and Prospect Park West.

An article from the Brooklyn Eagle on December 18, 1882, describes the scene on the first day of skating that year: “Boys who were on their way to school suddenly began to feel sad and wondered if their father’s [sic] physicians would not order fresh air and exercise instead of the usual intellectual cramming.”

In those years, the first day of four-inch-thick ice was cause for celebration borough-wide, and led to peak crowds of as many as 20,000 skaters. With so many folks flocking to the ice, and with periodic warm spells midwinter, the scene at the Lake was understandably chaotic and unpredictable. Collisions between skaters and slips through thin patches of ice were not uncommon; all the while, “keepers,” uniformed in blue, tried often fruitlessly to instill a sense of order on the ice amidst the commotion.

Fortunately for Brooklyn skaters, crashing through the ice or being trampled by a renegade toboggan are concerns of the past. In 1960, under the guidance of controversial master planner Robert Moses, work began on the Park’s first skating rink, Wollman Rink, on the site of today’s LeFrak Center. Gone were the days of watching trolleys to figure out the afternoon’s plans. Park-goers could skate at any time during the season on the Park’s first skating rink.

And of course, things only got better in 2013 with the opening of the LeFrak Center, the Prospect Park Alliance’s contribution to Brooklyn skating. Its two modern rinks provide even more space to glide and an improved experience for skaters. If you haven’t paid the LeFrak Center a visit yet this year, be sure to stop by and check out the variety of ice-based programming this season – no need to look for a red flag in Grand Army Plaza! 

c. Tom Stephenson

The Painted Bunting: Flocking to the Park

December 15, 2015

This month, you may have noticed the influx of binocular-wielding, camera-toting bird lovers in the vicinity of the LeFrak Center at Lakeside searching for a rare and magnificent bird called the painted bunting, otherwise known as the bird that broke the Internet. This migratory member of the cardinal family is the first of his kind to be seen in Brooklyn in years, and has generated a significant amount of buzz thanks to his polychromatic plumage.

But the beloved painted bunting is hardly the first exciting species to temporarily call Prospect Park’s abundant lush woodlands, home. John Jordan, Director of Landscape Management for the Prospect Park Alliance, rattles off a list of impressive avian visitors, most recently some nesting great horned owls. “We regularly have red-tailed hawks and each year we get a great number of migrating – and sometimes nesting – songbirds coming through the Park,” he adds.

The Park’s woodland habitats do not exist by happenstance, but are the result of years of hard work by the Prospect Park Alliance’s Landscape Management and Design and Construction teams. In the late 1980s, when the Alliance was first founded, the Park’s natural areas were in a dire state. Decades of erosion and neglect had left the Park’s woodlands and waterways a poor habitat for wildlife. Over the past two decades, the Alliance has invested millions of dollars to revitalize the Park, planting hundreds of thousands of trees, plants and shrubs.

The LeFrak Center at Lakeside is an ideal example of this work. The project reclaimed three acres of wildlife habitat, including the site where the painted bunting was spotted – formerly a 300-space parking lot. Much of this restoration work is led by the Alliance’s Natural Resources Crew, which gives careful consideration to habitat value when deciding on plants to introduce to the landscape. “In addition to the aesthetic benefit, we think about how it adds to the health of the landscape and what creatures might utilize a plant for food, shelter or nesting,” said Jordan.

Prospect Park is designated as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. Thanks in part to its prime location along the Atlantic flyway, Prospect Park’s acres of forest attract migrating birds every year, drawn in by an abundance of food, and a variety of habitats. “Each of these bird species is drawn to different things,” explains Jordan. “The owls come for winter roosts in the tall evergreens; the woodland songbirds each occupy a different niche.” The woodlands provide especially varied and rich habitats for birds. “Some species hunt in the tree tops for insects, some scour the understory for berries, fruit, and seeds, and others forage along the forest floor.”

Love the painted bunting? Join Alliance naturalists at the Prospect Park Audubon Center for bird watching and other nature programs on weekends and during the Winter Recess. The Brooklyn Bird Club also leads early morning bird walks and monthly explorations of the Park. Learn about upcoming bird watching events, and check out our Visit the Park section for more information about birding in Prospect Park.

c. Jimmy Sawh

PPA Profiles: Shanley Pascal, Lakeside Recreation Manager

If you’ve spent any time at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside this season, you’ve undoubtedly seen the usual crowds of ice skaters gliding rhythmically around the rink, as well as the fast-paced frenzy of a hockey game. You’ve probably also noticed the emergence of a few winter activities less commonly seen in the City, like broomball and curling. Whether you’re a wintertime classicist or have learned the ins-and-outs of more untraditional sports, Lakeside Recreation Manager Shanley Pascal has likely played a role behind the scenes.

Ice skating has always been a major part of Shanley’s life. She grew up figure skating in the warmer climate of her native South Florida, and began her involvement in the skating community in New York City after matriculating at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in 2005. While still a student, she taught skating at several local rinks, and after graduating with a BFA in Theatre, she became the Skating Director at City Ice Pavilion. She was additionally elected to be Assistant District Representative of the Ice Skating Institute’s Metropolitan Area.

No stranger to the rest of the city’s rinks, Shanley first became a regular fixture on the ice at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside in 2013. While working for a local film distribution company located along Prospect Park West, she made sure to hit the ice at Lakeside weekly during lunch breaks. “I would ride a funny green and pink folding bike gifted to me solely so I could get there to skate,” she recalls. “I’ve been connected to this rink since long before I started working here!” Her transition to heading up programming at the Skate School was only natural.

New York City’s skating scene has broadened the figure-skating Floridian’s horizons on the ice. “While I taught skating at World Ice, I continued figure skating, but also tried out hockey and speed skating.” She’s been able to knock off two more winter sports from her bucket list since joining the team at Lakeside. “I always joked that curling was the only ice sport I hadn’t tried, and broomball wasn’t even on my radar yet,” she explains. Fortunately for Shanley as well as countless Brooklynites, the LeFrak Center at Lakeside offers both. “That’s one of the best things the LeFrak Center, the idea that anyone can participate—from learning to skate to figure skating, hockey, curling, and broomball.”

In addition to sharing her wealth of figure skating knowledge, Shanley is passionate about getting people involved in these off-the-beaten-path winter activities. Since its launch in November of 2014 curling at Lakeside has been a hit. “It’s a fun game to play, especially as we provide beer after,” which is a time-honored curling tradition known as “broomstacking.” Those well versed in curling and its accompanying social antics can opt for league play. Beginners are encouraged to partake in a five- to six-week long clinic, after which they will be prepared to participate in the action and revelry.

Learn more about the LeFrak Center at Lakeside. 

c. Daisy Lane Paul

Painted Bunting Spotted in Prospect Park

December 2, 2015

Winter may be on the horizon, but that’s not stopping one particularly colorful character from making a stopover in Prospect Park, a National Audubon-designated Important Bird Area. The now-famous male painted bunting was spotted near the LeFrak Center at Lakeside this week, and local media outlets and bird-lovers alike have converged to catch a glimpse. And with good reason: while less-colorful female painted buntings have been spotted in the area as recently as 2011, this is the first recorded sighting of a male painted bunting in Brooklyn in recent memory.

The multi-colored member of the cardinal family is likely bound for Florida or Central America for the winter, but was drawn to this area of the Park due to an abundance of shelter and seeds to forage and eat. As part of the creation of Lakeside, one of the Park’s newest attractions and the most ambitious restoration project in the history of the Park, the Prospect Park Alliance transformed a 300-spot parking lot into an additional three acres of green space and wildlife habitat – a perfect respite for migrating bird species like the painted bunting. Learn more about the Alliance’s  environmental preservation work and about birdwatching activities in the Park.