By Pam Johnson, Courier Senior Staff Writer:
Thanks to vandals, Guilford’s portable ice-skating rink won’t have the same picturesque setting as last year. After putting up with repeat offenses from unknown mischief-makers, including holes dug in the ice and breaks in a temporary fence, the Parks and Recreation Commission has moved the rink off the Town Green.
“The rink on the Green had a nice ambience, but there was a lot of vandalism to the fence and the liner was also damaged,” said Parks and Recreation Director Rick Maynard.
This year, the commission has accepted an offer from Guilford Lakes School Principal Mike Biddle to set up the 50- by 100-foot portable rink on a fenced-in tennis court on Maupas Road. As of now, the rink is ready, filled, and just waiting for Mother Nature to provide the perfect deep-freeze, said Maynard.
Opening the portable rink should help take the heat off a plan not to open the town’s other man-made ice skating rink at Bittner Park on Durham Road. That rink will not be frozen for use this winter, said Maynard. The town did fill and attempt to freeze the Bittner rink last winter, but a leak and on-again, off-again cold weather meant it never froze enough for ice-skating.
“Last year we put in a lot of effort into getting the rink ready. It takes a lot of water and money to fill it, and yet we had no skating at all on it last year,” said Maynard.
In other years, the Bittner rink’s positioning to the sun’s rays often created ice melt, even in 20-degree weather, said Maynard. The multi-use park at Bittner is mainly used in warm weather months for in-line skating, skateboarding, and other small wheel-sport activities.
Guilford’s other outdoor ice-skating attraction, Mill Pond, cannot open until ice reaches a depth of six inches. The ice is measured daily. Even if it looks safe for skating, Maynard said don’t go on the pond if the “No Skating” sign’s posted.
“You can’t go on Mill Pond until we have the safe skating sign posted. We have charts that let us know the safe number of inches required for the number of people on the ice,” said Maynard.
When frozen, Mill Pond can support up to 200 skaters and has room for figure skating, novice skating, and pick-up hockey games. Skate guards trained by the Guilford Fire Department are at the pond during skating hours and also oversee a bonfire on the shore.
Mill Pond doesn’t have lights for night skating, but there will be lights over the portable rink at Guilford Lakes. The lights will be on until 9 p.m. on nights the rink’s open. Maynard thanked the school’s custodial staff for agreeing to open and close the rink gates six days a week and man the lights. Parks and Recreation staff will open and close the rink on Sundays. Skate guards will not be on site at the Lakes School portable ice rink. The rink will hold up to 25 to 30 skaters. Maynard expects most will be young children and parents.
“Last year on the Green, the rink was open for about 2 1/2 days and we had mostly little kids and parents out there. It’s perfect for that,” he said.
Guilford Savings Bank donated the portable ice rink four years ago. Last year was the first time the rink was set up for use. This year, the rink went up as Guilford Public Schools dismissed for Christmas vacation. The “Skating” sign was posted when the rink froze solid on Dec. 26.
“Word wasn’t out yet, but it did freeze on Dec. 26 and there were some skaters using it,” said Maynard.
Guilford outdoor skating facilities are open for use when the “Skating” sign is posted. Weather permitting, Guilford Lakes School skating is Monday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mill Pond skating is weekdays 3 to 8 p.m.; Saturdays and school dismissal days 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sundays noon to 8 p.m. For ice updates, call 453-8068 ext. 103.
Pictured: If Mill Pond’s still not safely frozen, there’s a chance the ice is nice at Guilford’s newest skating location.
Photo by Pam Johnson