Prospect Park ice rink deal not so slick for city: advocate

[hrmjustin]

By Reuven Blau / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

The Prospect Park Alliance is skating away with a sweetheart deal to run a shiny new ice rink and cafe, a leading park advocate charges.

The Alliance raised $19 million in private donations to help build the $74 million Lakeside Center ice skating facility slated to open in December.

But under the controversial 17-year deal, the Alliance will not pay a penny back to the city for the first year and around $100,000 yearly afterwards, according to the agreement obtained by NYC Park Advocates.

“This is an extremely extravagant parting gift from the mayor,” said Geoffrey Croft, the group’s leader.


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/park-advocate-slams-city-rink-deal-article-1.1512535#ixzz2kNFP2G7c

[Travis_0004]

1. I'm not too worried about the city making a profit

Parks and recreation doesn't turn a profit, and I would imagine NYC has a pretty big budget for parks and recreatiion.

If a lot of people will use the rink, and other things in the park (there will be a roller skating rink for summer use as well as other improvements).

If this was a private company going to make a ton of money, then I would think the city got a crap deal, but if this is a non profit, who will pay a bit to the city, and use the rest to maintain/improve the park, then I don't really have a problem with the deal, at that point, provided the cost/benefit is there.