Dawn Parker

Lansing State Journal

EAST LANSING — An outdoor ice rink will soon draw skaters to East Lansing's Valley Court Park

Modeled after similar rinks in Howell and Holland, it will be the only outdoor rink in mid-Michigan, East Lansing Community Development Specialist Amy Schusler said

The two-week period from Feb. 11-25, Schusler said, is both weather-dependent and a pilot program designed to see if people come out and skate.

Schusler said Howell and Holland have both had outdoor rinks.

“They (city leaders) all felt that it provided an outstanding community benefit,” she said.

Howell Area Parks and Recreation Executive Director Paul Rogers is readying his city’s rink for its second season. Rogers said the rink — the same size as the one East Lansing will install — was “quite well-received” by the community.

The lifelong Howell resident has happy memories of skating on an outdoor rink in the city.

“I wanted to bring it back,” Rogers said. “It adds a little more of the hometown feel. I’m anxious to get it going, and I think it will be used a lot.”

East Lansing skaters will have to provide their own equipment. There won’t be a concession stand, but Schusler said at least two churches have approached her about handing out cups of hot chocolate.

This year’s rink is about the size of one you’d build in your backyard and is estimated to comfortably hold around 40 skaters. The location at Valley Court gives the city room to expand in the future if this year is successful.

The initial idea for the rink came about a year ago, Schusler said. The city’s Downtown Management Board and Downtown Development Authority quickly embraced the concept, which grew out of a survey to downtown merchants asking what new activities they believed visitors would embrace.

A downtown ice rink, Schusler said, was heavily favored.

“They felt it would help to generate additional excitement in and support of the downtown,” she said.

Downtown Management Board member Ray Walsh, who owns Curious Book Shop and Archives Book Shop, believes the rink will be an asset to the downtown.

“It’s a good place for families to come down and have fun. It’s good for people of all ages,” Walsh said.

While Valley Court Park is west of the core downtown area, Schusler said merchants are confident skaters will visit businesses both in and near the downtown, whether for a hot drink or more serious shopping.

Opening by Feb. 11 would make the rink a romantic destination for Valentine’s Day, Schusler said. Anyone wanting to skate will be able to check online to see whether conditions are right for the rink to be open.

The city will eventually be asking for volunteers to help put the rink together. Others will be tasked with shoveling off the ice surface after a snowfall or monitoring skater safety. While the official call hasn’t gone out yet, Schusler said she’s already heard from some eager volunteers.

If you go

A one-of-a-kind outdoor ice surface will soon draw skaters to East Lansing's Valley Court Park from Feb. 11-25. The rink will be open from 3 to 9 p.m. daily, weather permitting. Modeled after similar rinks in Howell and Holland, city staff said it will be the only outdoor rink in mid-Michigan.

Contact Dawn Parker at 517-377-1056 or dlparker@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter at @arwen22266.