New Ice Rink Could Get Even Better

While the is opening its new outdoor ice rink at this weekend, its board is thinking ahead about improving the facility someday, renovating the existing Iceland building and its indoor rink, and adding other types of recreation.

The district put in the outdoor rink because high demand for ice time caused its indoor ice rink to be booked solid, said Ray Czarnik, president of the district's board. He touted the new rink's features and the cost effective way it was built, welcomed public input and floated ideas for other recreational facilities.

Earlier: New Ice Rink Opens

"We always wanted an outdoor rink," Czarnik said, adding the district freezes ice for skating in winter in various parks, but that variable weather inevitably melts the ice.

Rink has compressor, converts in summer

The new outdoor rink, on the IceLand property at Ballard Road and Cumberland Street, Niles, has and a compressor, which makes it usable on days up to 52 degrees F, though the surface could soften on warmer sunny days, Czarnik acknowledged.

It measures 65 feet by 165 feet.

In summer, the district will put flooring in the rink so athletes can play soccer.

"It would be a multi-purpose floor, almost like a gym floor," Czarnik said.

Costs saved on labor, materials

The district used its regular employees to assemble the rink instead of hiring a contractor.

"Our staff has construction experience. They did the digging, the laying of boards, and built the whole thing," Czarnik said.

Instead of buying new hockey boards (rink walls), glass and compressors, the district bought them used. It had to buy the refrigeration mat new, however, the president said.

That came to a total price tag of $200,000.

"It would have cost four times that to have outside contractors do it," Czarnik commented, saying that would have been cost prohibitive. However, he expects the new rink to earn back its cost. The amount spent represents a relatively small amount of the district's total $12.4 million annual budget for 2012.

Rink may get roof, or even a building

While the outdoor rink can be used in the rain and snow, Czarnik said the board was considering the idea of putting a roof over it to make it a pavilion. He also didn't rule out the idea of someday adding walls to enclose the rink inside a building.

There's a precedent for that. IceLand's current indoor rink was built in 1971 as an outdoor rink, and the building was built around it later, Czarnik said.

Other projects on the drawing board

The district is thinking of making a sports field to the west of the outdoor ice rink so that little kids could play soccer and t-ball and participate in tournaments, Czarnik said.

He also said the IceLand building will be undergoing a renovation, and that the district is working with a committee of interested teens to brainstorm plans for a skateboard park.

If the outdoor ice rink proves very popular, Czarnik said its compressor could support an additional ice rink if that becomes indicated.

Czarnik said he welcomes comments, ideas and suggestions from the public on the rink or any other district matters. He invited residents to voice their ideas at a park board meeting or contact:

• Ray Czarnik, ramhawker@aol.com or (708) 878-4577, or
• Joe LoVerde, park district executive director, Joe@niles-parks.org or (847) 967-6633.

Reporter Janet Nester contributed to this story.

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