FLINT, MI – Kettering University officials are anxiously anticipating the opening next week of the new community ice rink inside Atwood Stadium, 701 University Ave. in Flint.

Once it opens, members of the community will be able to skate, free of charge, during the rink's hours of operation.

"It probably won't be daily, unless the need arises," said Mike Schaal, rink manager and director of recreation services at Kettering University.

Schaal said the rink is on schedule to open next week, as long as the weather cooperates.

The rink supplies, purchased for about $9,000 from NiceRink, a company in Genoa City, Wisc., were delivered in mid-December.

A handful of Kettering University maintenance, facilities, grounds and recreation services staff began assembling the 140-foot- by 70-foot rink on Monday, Jan. 13, – laying the liner and raising the walls.

It sits inside the stadium, atop the artificial turf, which should not be harmed by the rink. To protect the turf from skaters' blades, Schaal said he expects a designated area to be created for people to rest and put on their skates, as well as a walkway to the rink.

Tuesday, Jan. 14, the brackets holding the walls were reinforced with boards that were screwed into the brackets holding the walls up. About 40 sandbags will be placed on the boards around the rink to help the PVC walls withstand the weight of 25,000 to 30,000 gallons of water.

Thursday, Jan. 15, Michigan Water Transport will send about four truckloads of water into the stadium to freeze for a 4-inch-thick ice rink.

The weekend forecast calls for temperatures that will hover around the freezing point. As long as that holds true, Schaal said, the rink will open for business once the water has frozen solid.

"There are so many variables, you know, wind, sunshine, temperature, cloud cover," he said. "Everything is weather-dependent. Everything is so variable."

Schaal said he plans to schedule the rink's business hours during some weeknight evenings as well as weekend.

"We'll start with a reasonable schedule, and then base hours on that. If no one's here, then we won't open it as much," Schaal said. "But I really want to open it during evening hours because it will be cool to skate under the lights."

Schaal said there will be staff assigned to the rink in case of emergency or injury. He said he wasn't sure security staff will be necessary since the stadium is already part of Kettering University's campus security rounds, so an officer already checks in on the rink periodically.

"It will be staffed and it will be safe. I'm not worried about that," Schaal said. "It will be safe."

He said the amount of safety and security staffing – much like the rink's hours – could fluctuate based on need and community use. Schaal said that right now, he's just not sure how it's going to go over.

"We've never done this before," he said, smiling. "(Staffing and hours) depend on use. If we open it and it's just a few families trickling in and it's not being used a lot, it won't justify a (large staffing) need."

The hope, Schaal said, is that the rink brings vitality to the historic stadium.

"I would encourage people to use the facility and enjoy it," he said. "And enjoy the winter weather."

According to Flint Journal records, the stadium opened June 8, 1929. The city of Flint handed it over to Kettering University in exchange for reimbursement to repair damage at the stadium.

Schaal said Kettering University President, Dr. Robert K. McMahan, was excited to get the ball rolling on the ice rink project, as the purpose of taking over the stadium was to allow the stadium to be used for more community events as it had been in the past.

"It was President McMahan's idea, and he was so energetic and enthusiastic about it," Schaal said. "He deserves all the credit."

Schaal said the community ice rink plan fit into the University's Community Vitality Pillar – an effort that began in 2012 to purchase and revitalize blighted properties to help re-engineer downtown Flint.

At the end of winter, the ice will melt and the rink will be disassembled and stored so it can be used again next winter.

Kettering University covered the cost for the rink, but is looking for community sponsors to help offset the expenses, its staff and maintenance, such snow removal and regular resurfacing of the rink.

The exact opening date and operating hours are still being decided, and are dependent on the weather.

For more information, hours or to make a suggestion, call Kettering University's Recreation Center front desk at (810) 762-9732, or visit their website.

