ROCKFORD (WREX) -
Even if you don't win the massive Powerball jackpot, there is one
thing to do in Rockford this winter that won't cost your family a
fortune.
The Winter Wonderland synthetic ice rink in Davis
Park officially opened today. With more than 100 visitors so far,
organizers expect it to be a big hit again this holiday season.
Johnny
Beck took his young daughter Hannah to the skate park. Hanna has gone
staking before, but it was her dad's first time. "Yeah she was showing
me how to skate, I know that. She had fun," said Beck.
He says
they had such a good time at Rockford's Winter Wonderland, they are
already planning another visit. "We'll be coming back on Sunday," said
Beck.
Amy McIntyre, the ice rink's operation's manager says the
best part is admission is free this year. If you need to rent skates,
it will only cost you three dollars. "Because it's a cheap and low fee
affordable thing for families, you get to see them do more things when
they might not otherwise get to."
She explains the park is not a
money maker for the city, but rather a service to the public. "And we
come together just to try and provide this opportunity for families to
enjoy the holidays."
The unique skating rink is made of 12,000 square feet of synthetic ice
and an 800 foot skating trail around the park, allowing for skating fun
all winter long, despite the temperature.
"The rink
itself is a synthetic ice, so it isn't real ice, but what's cool about
it is yesterday then it was 65 degrees out and today when it's not, it's
still out there and you can still enjoy it and skate on it," said
McIntyre
This is the third season the Winter Wonderland rink has
been set up in Davis Park. Skaters like Brenden Caver say they enjoy
having the option in the winter months. "It's terrific, downtown
Rockford needs more of this sort of stuff and we don't live far from
here so it's nice to be able to pop down here for a minute."
The rink's hours are 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays from now until January.
For more information, visit www.rockfordparkdistrict.org.
