Winter Village at Bryant Park 

Can wheelchair users skate on The Rink at Bryant Park ? YES!

So this wasn’t on our bucket list as a family because we never thought wheeling on The Rink at Bryant Park was even a remote possibility, however it was on a wish list. Last year while at Brookfield Place during winter, we all watched skaters glide gracefully on the rink and of course, chuckled at a few that held on to the rim as if it was life support and thought, how fun would that be. Come late fall this year, we’re creating our list of places to visit during the colder months and the subject of ice skating came up. Annie perked up and said she’s heard of rinks that are accessible and of course, the hunt began with all the major rinks in the city.

I was able to nail down The Rink at Bryant Park since they had a section on accessibility. Having visited Bryant Park many times during the past years, we admire its ability to transform from summer into a Winter Wonderland always filled with so much to do. New buildings emerge with Holiday Shops, selling local and unique gifts and of course The Rink with its iconic Christmas Tree. This year we were interested in the food hall + bar, The Lodge, after learning it’s by UrbanSpace, known for local community support amongst chefs. But most importantly, it’s accessible ice rink.

I contacted them twice to ensure wheelchair users are allowed on the ice before planning our day out. I was assured Annie would be able to get on the rink but neither of the staff could explain how it worked. Our schedules aligned for an early morning weekday trip this past week. At the ticket booth, the staff got a supervisor to explain that one of their qualified staff takes Annie out on the ice and wheel her around and since Rayan and Diya knew how to skate, they would be allowed to skate around the wheelchair. To my surprise there is no adaptive equipment required for the chair on ice, they explained the rubber wheels do just fine on its own. We got our tickets and with much anticipation collected our skates to get ready for the ice. The children got on then Annie followed suit, note two staffs lifted her chair a few inches onto the ice and away they went. Full disclosure, I’ve never skated in my life nor was it my dream to do so however I had given my word I’d try. And that I did - I was one of those who held onto the rim for dear life - took out our wonderful family pictures and quickly hobbled back off the ice to be a spectator. Hey, at least I kept my word and I got a picture to prove I skated once! They spent about an hour on the ice wheeling, a few falls with plenty of gliding and wide smiles while being surrounded by some of New York's famous buildings. And that’s how we checked off ice skating and wheeling together from Rayan’s birthday wish list.

The Staff Host on the ice were beyond helpful and friendly, from the one who wheeled Annie to the one who tried giving me skating tips and was willing to help me make it around the rink as well as the medical assistant on hand who took our pictures and made sure to announce Rayan’s birthday while we were on the ice. I explained we blog about our experiences for other wheelchair users to know what’s available and they told me of their adaptive sleds available which children with autism tend to use. Each of them were happy to ensure a memorable moment for all !

The Lodge by UrbanSpace
We expected creative food concepts at The Lodge and were not disappointed. With choices like truffled Mac’n’Cheese, Bacon Jalapeno Cheesy Fries, Chimney Cakes, artisanal bakeries and so much more to choose from, there is certainly something to please. Don't forget a full bar set-up is also available.

Duration: 2-3 hours minimum

Accessible & Important Tips:
- Skating is free for wheelchair users. On their website it states both manual and motorized wheelchairs are allowed on the ice. I inquired with the staff if a motorized wheelchair user also needs a staff to push them, they did not have an answer for me.
- They have two adaptive sleds available for younger children. According to the Staff Host, they’ve used them for autistic children who can fit in them and sit steady. I'd imagine if a blind child wants this experience, it would be possible and amazing. Refer to the image in this blog post above. They’re also free of charge.
- Accessible restrooms are available in The Rink area as well as in The Lodge.
- Accessible park entrances are mid-block on 40th and 42nd Streets, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.
- Access to The Lodge is from the side with the Christmas Tree.
- There are various kinds of seating arrangements, picnic- styled tables are available for wheelchair users on The Lodge.
- While most of the areas we walked were accessible, note it seems like limited spacing for a wheelchair user to fit into some of the Holiday Shops and a majority of them had a 2-3 inch step up. Click here for more information on how to access the shops here.
- It’s crowded during the holiday season which is tends to be from Thanksgiving to the first week of January. It’s recommended to go early on weekdays.
- Bring a lock and key to store your items in the locker for free, bags are not allowed on the rink. It costs $12 to purchase their lock or check your bag.

Location:
40 to 42nd Streets between 5th and 6th Ave.
(Accessible entrances are in the middle of 40th and 42nd street between 5 & 6th Avenue
New York, NY 10023
Tel: 212-768-4242
Website: https://bryantpark.org/

Schedule: Holiday Shops is open until approx. early Jan The Rink and The Lodge is open until early Mar. Click here to visit their website for a full schedule.

Admissions: Various pricing available for ice skating shoe rental depending on the day and time. CIick here to visit their website for a full schedule.

Public Transportation: Buses that stop nearby are the M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M55, Q32, M42, BxM2

Important: Information is subject to change, please visit https://bryantpark.org for the most up to date details.
Oct 2024