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Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Sports An Ice (or Something!) Skating Rink

Posted by Dominic Holden on Tue, May 19, 2009 at 1:19 PM

The city is looking for someone to build an ice-skating rink in Occidental Square Park, reports Katie Zemtseff in the DJC:

Ng said the city is not sure what kind of rink will go in the space, which is 80 feet wide by 80 feet long. It could be a pad with real ice on top or it could be an alternative surface with support systems. The city will see who has the best solution for the space, which should fit up to 120 people.

Whoever is chosen will pay the costs of operating the rink. They will be responsible for planning, design, permitting, construction, operation, maintenance and removal costs. They can propose a management and business plan for concessions, events and other activities to help defray operating costs. [...]

The rink will operate this fall and winter. Whether it is extended into other years will depend on the results. Ng said it could be an example for the city. “If this is a huge success, I think the next natural progression is to say are there other facilities, other parks that we have that would be a good match?”

First off, hooray! Secondly, we should not settle for an iceless ice-skating rink unless the "alternative surface" is something wonderful. But, as a rule of thumb, watching strangers face-plant onto actual ice is exponentially more satisfying that watching them eat shit an "alternative surface," unless said "alternative surface" is made of tequila or hot dogs. Last, this is so much better than the stupid carousel in Westlake Park.

This lovely Slog tip came from Jesse.

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Frosting? Can it be made of frosting?

Posted by STJA on May 19, 2009 at 1:23 PM

Curling ftw!

Posted by Will in Seattle

on May 19, 2009 at 1:26 PM

I want a pudding rink.

A butterscotch pudding rink.

Posted by Wicked Virgin

on May 19, 2009 at 1:27 PM

I second the butterscotch pudding rink.

Posted by au_gout on May 19, 2009 at 1:35 PM

Hell yes! I could go skating on my lunch break!

And Will, 80 feet is way too short for a regulation curling sheet.

Posted by Hernandez on May 19, 2009 at 1:37 PM

I once skated on an "alternative" skating surface, touted to be green in that it was recyclable material, and did not use energy to preserve coldness. It totally sucked... it's just plain, flat plastic-like panels. There is no purchase when you try to push off with your back leg, so you just kind shuffle/skitter around.

Do not want.

Posted by nixor on May 19, 2009 at 1:39 PM

Will the crackheads be issued skates so they can skate after you asking for money? Will there be piss and shit on the ice as well? Oh Pioneer Square...how I miss working near thee. Although, relative to where I work now, I would rather take the piss smell.

Posted by Lacking Creativity

on May 19, 2009 at 1:42 PM

Oh such doom and gloom!

This surely will work out at least as well as the automatic toilets.

Posted by PC on May 19, 2009 at 1:48 PM

If Mexico City can have a real outdoor ice rink we sure as hell can!

Posted by kinaidos on May 19, 2009 at 2:02 PM

Can they just build a big fenced in area and stock it with free meth, Sparks, and weapons, put the omnipresent Occidental Park shit bags in there and just let them go at it? That would definitely be entertaining.

Posted by john cocktosin on May 19, 2009 at 2:03 PM

@5 - darn. Maybe we can shut down the roads and make it longer?

Posted by Will in Seattle

on May 19, 2009 at 2:29 PM

In Occidental Park, even a real ice rink will be "alternatively surfaced with tequila and hot dogs" after the hobos and frat boys puke on it all night.

Posted by SchmuckyTheCat on May 19, 2009 at 2:48 PM

So a city that is@ $ 30,000,000 in the hole wants spend money on ice rink? I wounder how more programs will get cut & people will lose there jobs to oay for this

Posted by abm on May 19, 2009 at 6:55 PM

@ 11

Pray for snow.

Posted by STJA on May 19, 2009 at 9:22 PM

why in the world aren't they doing this somewhere that has more Christmas spirit? Somewhere near the downtown high end shopping district like New York, say Westlake Center Park for example?

Talk about trying to force people to go down to the rat hole of an area in Pioneer Square! LMFAO

I'm so glad my taxes aren't paying for that folly...

Posted by Reality Check

on May 20, 2009 at 12:09 AM

Luckily its relatively near a light rail station. People will come from Westlake during the shopping season. I would have assumed it would fail if not for that.

Posted by JesseJB on June 3, 2009 at 9:30 AM