Skate on Saline's ice rink this winter

Wednesday, December 8, 2010 | Source: Concentrate

Don't stay inside bundled up all winter -- dust off your old ice skates and head to downtown Saline for some cold-weather fun.

The city's portable ice-skating pool was set up last Thursday. "Now we're waiting for Mother Nature to work her magic, and make water ice," says Downtown Development Director Art Trapp.

Trapp explains that there was an ice rink in Henne Field years ago, and recently there's been a push to bring one back to Saline. The city did some research, including on the one the nearby village of Dexter has, and through some discretionary funding and a donation from the Rotary, the $5,000 was raised to put the rink in place.

The rink is 60 by 100 feet, located in the northeast corner of Henne Field, off Bennett Street. It was still liquid last week, needing a few days of cold weather to freeze it up yet. After it freezes, the ice has to be surfaced so it's smooth for skating.

Trapp says he hopes the rink will draw people outside into downtown, even if it is a little chilly outside. "It's something to do downtown," Trapp says. "Hopefully, it will draw people out, and people will go downtown and visit our stores and restaurants."

Skaters can click here and on the "events" link to get skating rink updates.

Source: Art Trapp, downtown development director for the city of Saline
Writer: Kristin Lukowski