RUTLAND — Locals are ready to lace up their ice skates once given the green light that the rink in town is sufficiently frozen and ready to go.
Longtime Recreation Director Corinna Frohock said that once they get the rink set up, a few nights in a row predicted to be around 20 degrees are needed in order for the water to freeze property, so the rink is safe to use.
“That has been our first challenge this year,” she said of the infamously unpredictable New England weather.
This is the third winter an SIZE ice skating rink has been set up on the basketball court behind public safety, with parking at the Town Hall on Main Street. The Rutland 300th Committee helped with the initial purchase of the rink in early 2022 as part of the yearlong tricentennial celebration.
“Each year since, recreation has purchased upgrades, such as higher height panels and bumpers,” Frohock said.
She went on to say that the structure is “pretty easy to build,” and it took about an hour for a small group of dedicated volunteers to do it late last week.
“The panels all slide into place on support brackets, and are held in place by buckles under the liner, so (there’s) no measuring or staking or anything,” Frohock said. “The trickiest part is spreading the liner, which weighs about 250 pounds and comes on a big roll. We put out a call for volunteers on our Facebook page and had some great helpers show up to wrangle it.
“Once the liner is spread out, any little breeze will carry us all away, so it’s a race to get it spread out and the water in to weigh it down with as few air pockets as possible,” she continued. “Rutland Fire Department fills it for us with a fire hose, so that goes pretty quickly.”
In the past, the rink was filled with water to about 9 inches deep, and they waited for about 4 inches of ice to form before they opened it up to the public for skating.
“This year we are trying the method of filling it a few inches at a time and letting each layer freeze solid before adding more water,” Frohock said. “We hope that freezing from the bottom up will help keep the ice solid longer in the season and keep people from accidentally breaking through and damaging the liner if we have a warm spell.”
They are hoping the rink will be ready to go soon, possibly already by the time this story is published.
“As long as RFD can find some time to add more water for us after the storm, we should be able to build up a good smooth surface for skating even with the snow,” Frohock said last week.
News and updates are posted on the Rutland Recreation Facebook page (facebook.com/rutlandrec), and there is a pinned post at the top of the page with a link to a Google doc that is updated with open and closed info and when the lights are on, as well as a form to report any issues such as damage or poor conditions.
Frohock said the rink is open whenever possible, and she keeps a close eye on the conditions and only closes it when necessary.
“We just ask that people always check before heading out,” she said. “If people skate when the ice is thin or soft, it can damage the surface or the liner, which is difficult to fix and may mean an early end to skating. Also, for the time being we are asking that there be no hockey on the rink, as it damages the liner and causes leaks.”
Frohock is in the process of looking into adding kick boards, which would protect the skating rink liner so hockey can be played there.
“After adding kick boards, I’m hoping that our next improvement can be a lending closet for skates for people who don’t have their own,” she said. “I’ve been to a few neighborhood rinks that have this, and it’s great.”
Frohock, who will be marking nine years in her position in April, said she enjoys providing recreation options such as the rink for town and area residents.
“I love the variety of programs and activities throughout the year and always planning for the next season, as well as working with youth in the community both as program participants and staff,” she said.
She reported that the response from people to having the rink as a winter activity option has been nothing short of positive, and that she relishes seeing people using it.
“Even though the skating season is short and unpredictable, people have really enjoyed the rink whenever we can have it open. Last winter I stopped by on a weekend and met a family who had brought their 5-year-old for her first ever skate, which was awesome. We turn on the basketball court lights at night whenever we can, and we will have people skating pretty much any time we turn them on. It’s used by all ages, and one of my favorite things is seeing teens enjoying some free wholesome outdoor fun together.”
