Trump Org Presses Eric Adams For Rights To Central Park Ice Rink After City Hall Spurned Nonprofit Gift [View all]

Source: Huff Post

Mar 15, 2025, 12:19 PM EDT


The Trump Organization is aggressively lobbying the office of Mayor Eric Adams to win its bid to run Central Park’s Wollman Rink, two sources familiar with the matter confirmed to THE CITY — squeezing Adams to award a contract even as President Donald Trump’s Justice Department moves to dismiss the mayor’s corruption case.

The city put out a solicitation for bids just days after Trump won reelection in November. The opening for Trump to run the coveted rink also came just weeks after the nonprofit Central Park Conservancy had offered to give the city $120 million to replace the rink and fix up part of the park.

Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi and Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue didn’t take the gift offer — and didn’t respond to the conservancy’s followup. After ghosting the conservancy, the Department of Parks and Recreation put up a public notice the morning of Nov. 13 seeking bids to operate the rink.

Within hours, a Trump Organization executive was quoted as stating the company intended to pursue the contract — suggesting advance knowledge of the bid opportunity. If City Hall awards the Wollman Rink concession to the Trump Organization, the president’s family business, it would link the popular tourist destination at the foot of the iconic park to the Trump name once again.

Read more: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-org-presses-eric-adams-for-rights-to-central-park-ice-rink-after-city-hall-spurned-nonprofit-gift_n_67d5a4ade4b0ae541d66c311