Please see our NEW PETITION

History
On a fateful summer’s day in 1977, Wayne, a teenager on roller skates, found himself in a paved, oval shaped area in Central Park. He decided this was a perfect place to skate, and so Skater's Road and a new community of New Yorkers were born. Little did Wayne know that Skater's Road would welcome the likes of Aretha Franklin, Madonna, Wesley Snipes, Keanu Reeves and Jerry Seinfeld. It became so popular so quickly, “Good Skates” opened at the top of the hill (Le Pain Quotidian location) in 1978 renting skates with a small rink plus music.

1980s
In the 80s, Skater's Road was filled with skaters dancing to the popular dance tunes of the day blasting from their boom boxes. The adjacent hillside was filled with New Yorkers and tourists enjoying the spectacle and dancing along. It became a meeting place, a place to come together. Over the subsequent years, Skater's Road became a vibrant, diverse and fun-loving community beloved by many. Ask anyone, there is no pretense. Skate. Make new friends. Enjoy life! 

1990s
In 1995, the newly elected Giuliani Administration waged a campaign to chase the skaters out of the  park. In response, a group of skaters organized the Central Park Dancing Skaters Association (CPDSA). The Giuliani Administration met with the CPDSA representatives and recognized the value that the skaters brought to the Park and granted the CPDSA the right to obtain all the requisite permits needed to legally hold skating events. Ever since, the CPDSA has been organizing (free) skating events on north end of Skater's Road.

Present Day
Skater's Road in Central Park is one of the very few “true NYC experience” left in the city, tourists from all over the globe have it on their must-visit-list, when in NYC!!

COVID-19 has pushed to the forefront outdoor activities and roller skating in particular. This rebirth is bringing out new skaters and many old skaters back to skating again. Our skaters will tell you how good skating to music has been for their mind, body and soul, exactly what the doctor has ordered as we continue to push through such difficult times.  

Unfortunately, the resurgence has coincided with Skater's Road in desperate need of repair. The entire area has not been resurfaced in over 27 years!!

Fortunately, in early 2020, The City allocated $80,000 in funds for the resurfacing of Skater's Road. Though The City allocated the money, the Central Park Conservancy makes the final decision as to when the work gets done. After hearing about our petition and much needling on our part, they told us that the area will get resurfaced in the Spring of 2022. However, no details or dates have been given. The interesting question is: Why has the Conservancy done nothing for this wonderful recreational area in almost 30 years while pouring millions into the rest of the park?

Skater's Road attracts a vibrant and diverse community of skaters and spectators coming together to listen to music, skate, dance and have fun. A “true democracy where people of all ages, races, and classes are bonded together by the love of Skating”, to quote a tourist’s response to experiencing what happens on Skater's Road. It is a special place where people come together.

Wayne is still there every weekend (on occasion bringing cheesecake and a balloon for a new skater’s birthday), trying to keep this wonderful community of New Yorkers alive. Skater's Road is Wayne's World, a world he has loved and shared with the people for over 44 years. 

The Future
With support from the city and park, Skater's Road could come to symbolize the revival of the great city of New York and even the US itself. There is no better place for New Yorkers to show the world what it truly means to be an American. Democracy is alive and well on Skater’s Road. We may argue sometimes about what music to play, but that is about it :)

Please sign (no donations necessary on change.org) and share this petition so together we can make it happen!

We are the Central Park Rollers. We are a community of skaters who skate and dance skate on Skater's Road all year long. Community keeps us rolling! Come join us, make new friends, and have some fun! 

This petition was written by Anthony Donoghue and Sal Rentas for and on behalf of the dancers, skaters, the spectators, and Skater's Road.