The Winter Olympics: But Make It Brooklyn

The 2026 Winter Olympics are underway in Milan Cortina, bringing alpine drama, edge-of-your-seat speed, and a renewed confidence in pretending that most viewers understand curling. While Brooklyn may not have mountains or frozen lakes, we do know winter. We know how to move through it, adapt to it, and get where we are going anyway.

There are even a few athletes competing this year with ties to our borough. Brooklyn-born Henri Rivers IV represented Jamaica in alpine skiing, while his triplet sisters Helaina and Henniyah Rivers narrowly missed qualification.

As the Winter Olympics continue to unfold, we’ll be cheering on the everyday endurance that plays out right here across our borough. From sidewalks to subway platforms to front stoops, Brooklyn shows up all season long. Behind so much of what makes our borough feel alive in every season are local nonprofits doing the steady, behind-the-scenes work of backing our neighbors.

In the spirit of international competition and local pride, we’re offering our unofficial lineup for a reimagined, Brooklyn Winter Games. No travel required; Timbs encouraged.

The Winter “Olympics” Reimagined For Brooklyn

1. Cross-Country Skiing the Eastern Parkway Medians

Settle into a steady pace as you pass older adults power-walking, parents pushing double-wide strollers, kids being dragged on their sleds, runners training year-round, and neighbors posted up on benches no matter the weather. On your route, stop by The Brooklyn Museum to rest and recharge, and the indoor exhibits at The Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

2. Bobsledding at Fort Greene Park

Start with a few loops on the flat path, then head for the hill by the monument. It looks manageable until you’re halfway up and wondering why you didn’t take the long way At the top, look around at one of Brooklyn’s oldest public parks, cared for year-round by the Fort Greene Park Conservancy, a Brooklyn Org partner keeping this shared space open to all in every season.

 

3. Community Care Relay

Check in on a neighbor, shovel a stoop, or drop off groceries for someone who can’t around out easily in the Then pass it on by supporting local food distribution partners like COPO, Brooklyn Rescue Mission Urban Harvest Center, Mixteca, The Center for Family Life in Sunset Park, The Campaign Against Hunger, and Coney Island Lighthouse Mission that make sure Brooklyn families have what they need all winter long.

4. The Snow Day Childcare Shuffle

How quickly can you rearrange your entire day for this endurance event? Bonus points for local play dates and even more if you use your Cool Culture Family Pass to turn a snow day into a museum visit.

5. Prospect Park Ice Trials

Lace up at Prospect Park’s LeFrak Center and step onto the ice to test your coordination in front of a crowd. Be careful out there — you’ll dodge beginners gripping the rail, confident kids weaving past you, and the occasional burst of teenagers flying through. Thanks to the Prospect Park Alliance, Brooklyn’s backyard stays active and welcoming even when the temperature drops.

6. Break Bread With Your Neighbors

Some winter days call for staying in. Kindred Bakery BK’s “Kindred Oat + Root Loaf” comes from a Brooklyn Org grantee partner that supports young people on the autism spectrum through hands-on culinary training. Bake it, slice it, and share it with someone nearby.

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