Rensselaer Park featured a pond for several decades. Judging from old newspaper items it was used primarily for skating.

☞ RENSSELAER PARK.—The new skating rink in the Rensselaer Park is now completed, and the water has been let in. The pond is four hundred and thirty feet long, by about four hundred feet wide, and will admirably answer the purposes of a park. If the present weather continues for a day or two more, our skatists will have an opportunity of testing its glassy surface.
Troy Daily Whig. November 20, 1867: 5 col 1.

—The ground is certainly dry and in need of rain, when the vegetation on the edge of a swamp adjacent to a pond is withered and scorched. Such is the case at the present time around the pond within the enclosure at Rensselaer park.
“City Notes.” Troy Daily Times. August 31, 1876: 3 col 1.

—The pond at Rensselaer park has been filled with water from the cemetery lake, which has been allowed to overflow by the courtesy of Superintendent Boetcher. The water runs down the ravine to the north of the cemetery grounds and makes its way through a ditch to the park pond. The water will be used for the hand-engine trials.
Troy Daily Times. August 18, 1887: 3 col 6.

—There has been good skating on the Rensselaer Park pond this week, and it has been heartily enjoyed.
“Local News and Seasonable Jottings.” Lansingburgh Courier. December 7, 1889: 3 col 2.

—The pond at Rensselaer park has been stocked with perch.
“Lansingburgh.” Troy Daily Times. June 30, 1891: 3 col 4.

—Many skaters were on the ponds in Lansing’s grove and in Rensselaer park yesterday afternoon.
“Lansingburgh.” Troy Daily Times. December 3, 1892: col 2.

—William Connolly, ten years of age, who resides on Third Avenue, was severely injured yesterday afternoon while skating on the pond at Rensselaer Park. With a number of companions he was playing snap-the-whip, when he fell heavily on the ice. He sustained several ugly cuts about the head and ankle. Dr. Smith attended him.
“Upper Troy.” Troy Times. December 17, 1904: 6 col 3.

Back in the Seventies.

Editor The Record: An old friend recently told me that he saw a mock battle between the Monitor and the Merrimac on the pond inside of the racetrack at Rensselaer Park back in the seventies. The battle was fought by local military organizations. Was there a pond inside that track?
CURIOUS.
Troy, Sept. 2, 1937.
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Answer: The mock battle mentioned was fought on water inside the race track at Rensselaer Park. Water which seeped over the ground in the spring made quite a sheet which was surrounded by bullrushes. In time the “pond” was drawn off.
“Pulse of the People.” Times Record. September 22, 1937: 8.