Rink Agreement Brings Free Skating, Discounts to Englewood Residents

Englewood residents will benefit from monthly free skating sessions, discounted private rental times and a $1 off discount on charges during public skating times at the Mackay Park ice rink under a finalized lease agreement reached between city officials and the rink operator, Mayor Frank Huttle said Sunday.  

The agreement came after negotiations with city officials and The Boys and Girls Club of Garfield, which will run the park’s John T. Wright Ice Arena.

“Englewood residents will have access to a free skating session once a month and enjoy discounted rates at all other times,” Huttle said in a statement. “This agreement provides a great opportunity for the Englewood Recreational Department to plan and organize events and also makes the arena available to our school children for athletics.”

The Boys and Girls Club will also make the rink available to the city’s public school district, according to the mayor, who hailed the agreement as a boon to city youth.

“With the arrival of the Boys and Girls Club, the children of Englewood will have a fun and safe skating rink along with the kinds of recreational program that build confidence and character,” Huttle said.

The Boys and Girls Club will create a calendar giving the public, ice skaters and students the ability to use the Ice Arena. In addition, the Club will maintain regular skating sessions during the week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 2 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays for three and four hours respectively between, 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., Huttle said.

Specifics of the agreement were not immediately made public, but the lease had called for the city to be paid $25,000 annually over 10 years, northjersey.com reported. Englewood is paying $280,000 to upgrade the rink, with work expected to be finished in mid-October.

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