Meijer Skate Park Ice Rink Opens to the Public Saturday

There's good news for ice skating fans.

SELCRA announced that the Meijer Park Ice Rink will open to the public for the first time this weekend. Hours will be on Saturday, from 12-8 p.m., and Sunday, 12-6 p.m.

The Brighton Area Fire Department was able to flood the rink earlier this month afternoon after a previous unsuccessful attempt in January.

SELCRA Director Derek Smith said the ice needed a few weeks to freeze solid before use.

"It's kind of a learning curve, being the first year that it's open and kind of going through some growing pains on how to actually get an outdoor ice rink to work," Smith said. "I think the key is the liner that we purchased - it wasn't an inexpensive venture, but now that we have it in place, it will actually hold the water that we put on the surface and I think next year we'll get a lot more use out of it."

Smith said SELCRA is hoping to get a good two to three weeks use out of the ice rink before the so-called early spring hits Michigan.

SELCRA funded the construction cost of the rink through a BP Fueling Communities Grant it received through Corrigan Oil, which also covered the cost of purchasing the liner which was $2,500

The entrance fee for the ice rink is $3 per person and skaters must bring their own ice skates.

Smith said he is referring everybody who asks about ice skates to Instant RePlay, a used sporting goods store located on Grand River in Brighton.

"She's got a pretty good selection of used figure and hockey skates in there," he said. "Matter of fact, I'm trading in my son's there and picking him up a new pair tomorrow."

All day Saturday will be open skate, however some days will vary with drop-in hockey. View the schedule on SELCRA's website at www.selcra.com.

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