With temperatures slated to be near 70 mid-week, some of you may not think setting up an ice rink in front of City Hall this coming weekend is plausible.
Think again.
No matter what the temperature is this weekend, two local guys – Sgt. Josh Cizmadia with the Nevada Police Department and local businessman Matt Riesselman – plan to begin the work of creating a pop-up style ice rink this Saturday afternoon. They invite the public to join them in the endeavor.
“This Saturday, people can help us snap boards together and build the rink,” said Cizmadia.
Along with helping set up the rink, folks will be treated to hotdogs and chips, and the rink organizers will collect canned food items and winter apparel items that anyone wishes to donate for families in need.
The Downtown Nevada Community Ice Rink, according to Riesselman, whose business Elite Screen Printing is sponsoring it, will be 40 feet by 60 feet in size. Cizmadia will be in charge of keeping the rink clean and measuring ice to be sure it is 4 inches thick at all four corners and at the center. If it does not meet these measurements, a “rink closed” sign will be posted.
If ice does meet the required measurements, the rink will have a “rink open” sign and be available to skaters. Those attending an event to skate will be asked to sign a waiver. Those skating on their own will do so “at their own risk” (a sign will be posted).
Cizmadia and Riesselman hope to sponsor several skating events this winter, and provide skates at those events so more people can try the sport.
“We met because our kids play hockey. Our goal is to bring more awareness and interest to the sport of skating,” Riesselman said.
One event Riesselman would like to organize this year is for beginners to learn how to skate. That event, and other ideas the two have for family night and date night skates, are all dependent on Mother Nature bringing true winter weather to Central Iowa.
“We need temperatures to get cold enough and stay cold enough,” Cizmadia said.
Riesselman is hoping other businesspeople will join him in helping to sponsor a skating event or skate rentals for events. “This will be a really nice thing for kids and families to do when it’s cold outside,” he said.
This Saturday, bring your enthusiasm, questions and appetite to the City Hall campus, and be able to brag that you were part of setting up the new Downtown Nevada Community Ice Rink.
–Written by Marlys Barker, City of Nevada
