People can slide off the couch into outdoor wintertime fun when a pop up ice skating rink comes to East Lansing's Valley Court Park this February.
The rink will be free and open to the general public for two weeks from Feb. 11-25. Hours will be 3 to 9 p.m. and will be dependent on the weather.
The rink was inspired by similar pop up facilities in Howell and Holland, and is a community outreach effort spearheaded by the East Lansing Downtown Development Authority and Downtown Management Board. City staff say it is the only outdoor city rink in mid-Michigan.
"We are so pleased to support this community engagement project and believe that the rink will offer a different, meaningful activity for residents and downtown visitors," says DDA Chairperson Bill Mansfield.
Between 40 and 50 people can skate on the pop up rink at one time. Skaters must bring their own equipment. The rink will be managed by the East Lansing Department of Planning, Building and Development with help from community volunteers.
Additional financial support for the city's pop up rink was supplied through area donors and businesses that include Beggar's Banquet, The Riv, Rick's American Café, Harrison Roadhouse, MSU Federal Credit Union, Harper's Restaurant and Brewpub, Weathervane Advisors, Student Bookstore, Goomba's Pizza, Charlie Kang's, Martin Luther Chapel and the East Lansing Forward Citizen Group.
The city will be seeking community volunteers to help with various aspects of the rink from assembly to maintenance to taking the rink down at the end of the two week period. Click
here for more information on the rink as well as volunteer opportunities.
Source: Amy Schlusler, community development specialist, City of East Lansing
Writer: Ann Kammerer, News Editor
Got a story idea for Capital Gains? Email Ann Kammerer here.
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