Skaters on both Central Park rinks are devastated because this weekend will be the last on the ice this season – and furious at Blasio’s mayor for shutting down Trump’s rinks earlier to counter his political opponent.
The Post broke the news on Saturday that Lasker and Wollman rinks will close on Sunday, six weeks before their typical April closing dates.
Last month, Hizzoner announced that he was rejecting the city’s contracts with the Trump Organization, claiming that then President Trump had encouraged protesters to invade the Capitol.
Trump’s business group, led by his sons Donald Jr. and Eric, has operated the rinks for over 30 years.
Skaters hitting the ice on Saturday told the Post that they felt like pawns in de Blasio’s political game.
“The real people who are suffering are the 2,500 children who have benefited from the skating program this season and 250 innocent employees who have kept it up for us,” said Lee Krausner, 49, as he watched his two daughters skate.
Also on Saturday, the Trump Organization posted a letter about closing a door on the Wollman Rink.
Beside the letter was a notice about a petition to prevent the rink from closing early. The petition, initiated by figure skater Serena Sabet, had more than 1,700 signatures by Saturday afternoon.
“I was so upset. I 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 last year. Many things have already been ruined. ”
Marc Weitzman, who taught figure skating at Wollman for 12 years, told the Post that de Blasio’s decision will affect young skaters more than Trump.
“I understand politics, I understand, but I think that in this particular situation the children and all of us who teach here end up getting hurt,” said Weitzman, 44.
The parks department is looking for a new dealership to operate the rinks, but proposals for the job are not due until March 19. The city also plans to contract with the Trump Organization for Central Park Carousel and Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point in the Bronx.
The mayor’s office was unable to explain on Friday why another dealership was not found before closing the rinks and did not answer questions from The Post on Saturday.
“I would like someone in town to pay the bills. Bloomberg, or anyone, one of the big corporations so that children don’t have to suffer, ”said François Ragot, 50, whose son has played hockey at Lasker for the past decade.
“It was very sad,” he said. “Last night, the kids were playing hockey and we found out that there were no games for the rest of the season.”