Ice Skating at Larz Anderson

Larz Anderson Park's ice rink is the Jack Kirrane Ice Skating Rink, an outdoor Town of Brookline rink at 23 Newton Street, Brookline, MA 02445, open for public skating in winter. Brookline Recreation's last published prices were $8 for adults ($10 non-residents), $6 for children under 16, seniors, students, veterans and people with disabilities ($8 non-residents), free under 24 months, with skate rentals for $8. It sits at the top of the park in the footprint of the Andersons' old Italian Garden, and it has been in use since 1958. The Town has not yet posted an opening date for the 2026–27 season; last season closed on Saturday, March 7, 2026.

Public Skate Hours

These are the public skate sessions Brookline Recreation listed for the 2025–26 season (read October 18, 2026). The Town notes that hours may change for holidays and school vacations, and a new season's schedule usually replaces this one, so check the rink page or call (617) 879-4998 before you go.

• Tuesday and Thursday: 9 am – 12 pm
• Friday: 12 – 3 pm and 6 – 8 pm
• Saturday: 12 – 2 pm and 2:30 – 4:30 pm
• Sunday: 12 – 2 pm and 2:30 – 4:30 pm

Prices

• Adult daily skate: $8 resident, $10 non-resident
• Reduced daily skate (children under 16, seniors, students, veterans, people with disabilities): $6 resident, $8 non-resident
• Children under 24 months: free
• Skate rental $8, helmet rental $2, skate sharpening $12
• Season pass: adult $100 resident / $120 non-resident; child or reduced $80 / $100 — good for any public skate or drop-in hockey session
• Private ice rental: $325 resident / $425 non-resident for 50 minutes

Hockey, Stick and Puck, and Lessons

Adult drop-in hockey is for skaters 18 and older, $10 a session: an informal, non-checking game with no officials, Monday and Wednesday 9:30–11 pm and Sunday 7:30–9 am on last season's schedule. A helmet is required. Family stick and puck runs Sunday 5–6:30 pm for $10; skaters under 18 must wear full equipment with a caged helmet, adults need a hockey helmet, elbow pads, gloves, long sleeves and pants, and children 14 and under must come with a paying adult. No slap shots, scrimmages or private coaching during stick and puck.

Bay State Skating School teaches recreational, figure and hockey skating at the rink: a 25-minute lesson plus 25 minutes of supervised practice, with helmets required for ages 4 to 9 and sharpened skates (no double runners). Register with the school directly at 781-890-8480. Brookline Youth Hockey also skates here.

Birthday Parties and Private Rentals

You can rent the whole rink for a party, a school family event or an organized game: $325 for Brookline residents or $425 for non-residents per 50 minutes, booked through Brookline Recreation's online registration. Weekday field trips are arranged through the Recreation Department.

A Rink in a Historic Garden

The rink's site has a story. The Andersons' mansion stood at the top of the hill until the Town took the empty house down in 1955 and removed the Italian garden to make space for a skating rink. In 2010 the Larz Anderson Skating Pavilion was renamed for Jack Kirrane, a lifelong Brookline resident who played on the 1948 and 1960 U.S. Olympic hockey teams and won gold in 1960. Parts of the old garden walls still frame the ice. More on the estate is on our history page.

The Rink Is Being Redesigned

The Town says the rink, open since 1958, needs major work: much of its equipment is at the end of its useful life and it depends on external chillers. In May 2025 Town Meeting approved Community Preservation Act money for a redesign, and a Design Review Committee working with Maryann Thompson Architects met through 2026. The current design keeps nearly the same amount of ice, adds dasher boards and glass on all sides, a separate kiddie rink, softer corners and a rebuilt warming hut, with fossil-fuel-free mechanical systems. As of October 2026 the Town had not announced construction dates. The Town posts updates on its rink design page.

Getting There and Parking

The park road enters from Newton Street and passes the ice rink parking lot on its way up to the summit lot, by the Town's description of the roadway. Public input recorded on the Town's rink design page says accessible parking spaces should remain at the top of the hill. The Town lists no parking fee. In a snowstorm, Brookline's rules forbid parking in parks where it blocks snow removal, so check the parking page before a storm-day skate.

Other Outdoor Skating Near Boston

If you are searching for outdoor skating around Boston, Larz is an open-air rink a short drive from the city, run by the Town of Brookline. When the rink is closed or you just want snow, the park's slopes are what the Town calls a premier spot for sledding.