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Eastlake opens new ice rink
News-Herald, December 28, 2009 by Cassandra Shofar
For Eastlake residents, winter doesn't necessarily equal indoors — at least for those who like to ice skate or sled ride.
The city recently built an outdoor ice rink in front of Classic Park at 35300 Vine St., hoping to entice parents and kids to do more outdoor activities during the winter season, Mayor Ted Andrzejewski said.
"I remember when I was a teenager and the city did something like this. They'd take an area in the city, flood it and make an ice rink," Andrzejewski said.
"We wanted to give more activities in the wintertime for our people to do. And right here at Classic Park was the perfect place to do it. It's under the lights, so people can skate at night, (and) where we have it, it's right by the parking lot."
The 35-foot-by-65-foot rink turned out to be more than Recreation Foreman Nick Rubertino expected.
"There's definitely people wanting to get on it to use it," he said.
"It's a lot nicer than I expected. We had a blow up, inflatable thing before. This has nice side walls. It's framed in real nice, and 90 percent of it is frozen, so it's ready to be used."
Rubertino said he has had calls of interest, but hopes more people discover the rink, especially children.
"I like people to know it's there. At least it can be used by the kids, give them something to do," he added.
The rink, which cost $2,500 to build, was put up in a day, Andrzejewski said.
"It really was an inexpensive thing to do and of course it's something we'll use year after year, he added.
In addition to the ice rink, the city reworked a former sledding hill at Bruce Yee Park on Reeves Road.
"It kind of went neglected, so over the summer, we smoothed it all out and now it's ready to go," the mayor said. "It just gives the kids and the people of Eastlake a couple of outdoor activities to do free of charge."
By next year, the city does plan to purchase skates to rent out and utilize the concession stand already near the ice rink.
"When we get the money to open up the concession stand and purchase the skates, we're thinking like a $2 fee to rent skates out," he said, adding that for now people have to bring their own.
NOTE:
Concession stand open and ice skate rental available. $2 per pair in the Classic Park Kiosk.
Friday 6-10 p.m. Saturday & Sunday Noon-8 p.m.
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