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Synthetic ice rink installed at City Park

Expected to open Jan. 17

By Evan Bevins 3 min read

PARKERSBURG -- In about a week, area residents should be able to add ice skating -- or a reasonable facsimile -- to the list of activities available at Parkersburg City Park.

A synthetic rink has been installed in the park's pavilion. Once signage is in place and a few more I's dotted and T's crossed, the hope is to open it to the public on Friday, Jan. 17.

"It's something that's new and unique to the City of Parkersburg," Mayor Tom Joyce said Thursday. "The key is to give people, particularly young people, options and activities."

The 34-by-80-foot artificial surface was purchased from vendor Kwik Rink and installed at a cost of approximately $54,000. The bulk of that, $39,278, came from the philanthropic Ross Foundation, city officials said.

"It wouldn't have been possible without them," Joyce said.

On Thursday, a few city officials tried out the rink, including Ryan Barber, development projects administrator.

"I grew up in Toronto so I played hockey my whole life," he said.

Barber admitted it's been a few years since he laced up his skates but said the synthetic surface provided a similar experience to being on actual ice.

"The motion's the exact same when you're pushing off," he said. "And you can skate backwards."

The surface does not require a low temperature, so the inside of the pavilion was not particularly cold.

The city entered an agreement with the Wood County Recreation Commission to operate the rink. Commission Executive Director Vickie Marshall said they'd hoped to organize a broomball program -- a variation on hockey -- but there isn't enough time to do a full season before the rink is expected to be taken down in March. They hope to offer such an activity next winter.

"Next year that is our goal," Marshall said. "We're very excited about" the rink.

Joyce said signs outlining the rules of the facility need to be made and posted and he wants some more people to test out the surface more before it opens.

"We want to make sure it's safe," he said.

The rink will be open from 6-9 p.m. Fridays and 2-5 p.m. Sundays. It will be open from 2-9 p.m. on Saturdays, with designated skating times for children age 7 and younger from 2-4 p.m. and teens age 13 to 19 from 7-9 p.m.

Admission is $2, and skates can be rented for $4 for an hour. The rink can be rented for private events for $35 an hour.

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