Magazine

From the Archives: Winter in Central Park

1988

NYC waited 701 days to see measurable snow in Central Park (not that anyone’s keeping track...), and we still can’t get enough. So, we turned to our archives to enjoy snowy winters past.

Go back in time with us to the 1980s and '90s. Some things look very different (hello, '80s sunglasses and old Buicks). But New Yorkers’ love of ice skating in Central Park and the serene beauty of its snow-covered landscapes remain timeless.

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Wollman Rink, 1987

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Fifth Avenue perimeter, 1989

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Skaters at Wollman Rink, 1987

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The Mall, 1981

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Children at play, 1992

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Snow-covered beech tree, 1980s

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Sledding, snowmen, and snow-covered evergreens, 1991

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View looking west from the Ramble, 1994

Kaitlyn Zafonte is the Associate Director of Editorial at the Central Park Conservancy.

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Ice Skating in Central Park

Ice skating has a long-standing history in Central Park. The Lake was the first landscape to open to the public in winter 1858, and skating remains one of the most popular recreational activities in Central Park. Continue this New York City tradition with the grand unveiling of the rink at the new Harlem Meer Center! Stay in the loop by subscribing to our newsletter for exclusive updates on this exciting addition to the vibrant Harlem community.

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