For over a decade, the LeFrak Center has been more than just a roller rink—it has been a home for skaters, families, and community groups across Flatbush, Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, and beyond. This taxpayer-funded space has been a vibrant hub where people of all backgrounds come together to roller skate, connect, and build lasting memories. The LeFrak Center is not just a rink—it is a community institution built by and for the people and the roller skate community of NYC.

Rather than collaborating with the roller skating community to expand programming and increase roller skate participation, PPA has decided to bring in pickleball—a decision that will replace roller skating for part of the day and/or part of our roller skating season and undermine the community’s use of this taxpayer owned roller rink.

The Prospect Park Alliance (PPA) is selecting a new operator for the LeFrak Center without consulting the people who use and fund it. Despite receiving additional taxpayer dollars for rink operations, PPA has ignored the voices of roller skaters, local families, event organizers, and community members. 

🚨 What’s at Stake?

The Roller skating is being compromised. Pickleball is confirmed to be coming to LeFrak this summer, reducing access to the rink and limiting roller skating for part of the day and/or season. Instead of working to grow the roller skating community and enhance programming, PPA is refusing to work with the local community to enhance a beloved community activity and replace skating time with an entirely different sport that does not serve the same diverse audience.

Loss of community roller rink space. Community access to our roller rink could be further restricted, leaving less time and space for roller skating and community-led events.

Displacement of community-led events. LeFrak has been home to inclusive, diverse programming for years. Without protections, these programs could be reduced or eliminated to accommodate pickleball and other private activities.

History repeating itself. For the past 10 years, a nonlocal corporation operated the LeFrak Center without meaningful input or collaboration with the local roller skating community. We risk another decade of similar challenges and exclusion.

🛑 Roller Skating Deserves Investment—Not Replacement.

Roller skating at LeFrak is not just recreation—it’s a cornerstone of culture and community. Skating has brought together people of all ages and backgrounds, fostering an inclusive and vibrant space that reflects the diversity of Brooklyn. Instead of comprising possible roller skate time, PPA should be working with the skating  community to expand programming, increase outreach, and maximize the potential of this taxpayer-funded roller rink.

Roller skating is experiencing a nationwide resurgence, with participation growing by over 35% since 2020, driven by a renewed interest in outdoor, community-focused activities. In New York City, roller skating has become especially popular, with vibrant skate communities emerging across boroughs and events like Skate Nights and community meetups drawing large, diverse crowds. However, the previous operator of the LeFrak Center, a Westchester-based corporation, failed to harness this momentum. They did not operate the rink in a way that reflected the needs or culture of the local skating community, resulting in underutilized rink time and low attendance. Rather than addressing these shortcomings by collaborating with the community and improving programming, the Prospect Park Alliance (PPA) has chosen to introduce pickleball—an entirely different activity that displaces roller skating for part of the day and/or season. This approach overlooks the growing demand for roller skating and disregards the desires of the taxpayers who fund this space. 

We implore PPA to expand roller skating programming, engage with local community groups, and invest in the growth of this beloved activity to ensure that LeFrak serves the public interest and continues to thrive as a hub for roller skating culture.

✊ We Demand a Say in the Future of OUR Roller Rink!

We, the undersigned roller skaters, taxpayers, local residents, and supporters of public spaces, demand:

1. A formal meeting between PPA, Council Member Hanif, and the community before a new operator is selected. 
2. A written guarantee that roller skating and community programming will be prioritized and protected for the full day and full April-October season, without being sacrificed for pickleball or other exclusive activities.
3. A requirement that the new operator collaborates with local roller skating groups and community organizations to strengthen and expand the programming that has made LeFrak a cultural hub.
4. The creation of a community oversight committee to ensure that decisions about LeFrak are made with transparency and public input.

Why This Matters:

The LeFrak Center has long been a home for skaters and community groups, fostering culture, connection, and joy. Roller skating is not just an activity—it’s a tradition that has brought people together for over a decade. Replacing roller skating with pickleball for part of the day and season undermines the community’s investment in this space and limits access for the very people who have made LeFrak a success.

PPA’s decision to introduce pickleball reflects a failure to engage with the roller skating community in a meaningful way. Roller Skaters, local residents, and longtime community groups were not consulted before critical decisions were made. No public forums, surveys, or direct outreach were conducted to engage the people who actually use and fund this space. Providing after-the-fact updates is not the same as true community engagement. If PPA had genuinely consulted the community, we would not be in this position—fighting to preserve and expand roller skating at a taxpayer-funded roller rink.

The LeFrak Center is a public, taxpayer-owned rink meant to serve the skaters, families, and local communities who have built it into a thriving hub of culture and recreation. PPA’s mandate is to act in the public interest, and it is their responsibility to ensure that decisions about LeFrak reflect the priorities of the community—not corporate interests or exclusive activities.

Public funds should serve the public interest. We urge PPA and our city leaders to uphold transparency, accountability, and community engagement to ensure that LeFrak remains a space where roller skating can continue to thrive and grow.

Summary of What You’re Signing For:

By signing this petition, you are demanding:

1. A Public Meeting. The Prospect Park Alliance (PPA) and Council Member Shahana Hanif must meet with the roller skating community before selecting a new operator for the LeFrak Center.
2. Protection for Roller Skating and Community Programs. Roller skating must remain a priority for the full day and the full season, and community skating events must added, not be reduced or replaced by pickleball.
3. Collaboration with Local Community Groups. The new operator must work with new and existing community organizations to expand and improve roller skating programming and events.
4. Community Oversight. A formal committee must be created to ensure transparency, accountability, and community input in future decisions about LeFrak.

🖊 Sign this petition to protect and expand roller skating at the LeFrak Center!

All images ©️Mike Shane