Wheeling Park’s ice rink preps for busy few weeks
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WHEELING -- The J.B. Chambers Memorial Ice Rink at Wheeling Park is preparing for its busiest time of the year over the coming weeks with area students on holiday break. So visitors can expect to see safety protocols in place in conjunction with COVID-19 pandemic.
Rod Haley, executive vice-president of Wheeling Park Commission, said while the rink is always busy throughout the ice skating season, the next few weeks are undoubtedly the busiest time of the year for public skating sessions with students being on holiday break.
He said since the rink reopened in October following months of renovations, park officials put a number of safety protocols in place throughout the facility.
Haley said not only do they encourage mask wearing inside and outside at the facility, they also encourage social distancing. There are a number of signs posted throughout the facility requesting these rules be followed. In addition, they take time between skating sessions to clean and get everything ready for the next session.
"We have even added some outside seating just to try and help with social distancing," Haley commented. Haley said all of the staff who interact with patrons wear masks, whether they are indoors or outdoors. In addition, they always sanitize skate rentals between each use. They have also added hand sanitizer stations throughout the facility.
Haley said social distancing has not been an issue so far at the facility. He said between the outdoor rink and the indoor seating area there seems to be plenty of space for patrons to spread out.
It was back in March when the Wheeling Park Commission broke ground on a $1.35 million renovation project on the ice rink and multipurpose community facility. As part of the renovation work, a new concrete floor was constructed with approximately seven miles of refrigeration piping beneath it. In addition, new dasher boards and tempered glass were installed around the rink.
"We are always looking at improving our facilities and always trying to find ways to raise the funds to do that. We knew with this year's renovations that was not the end (of improvements)," Haley explained. "We know the superstructure, which is the roof, needs painted and repaired -- so we're constantly looking for improvements," he added.
Jessica Weasenforth of St. Clairsville, who was waiting in the admissions line at the facility with her three children, said her children look forward to ice skating over the holiday break every year at Wheeling Park.
"It's a great way to stay active in the cold months," Weasenforth commented.
Karalea Payne of St. Clairsville, who was spending time skating with her three daughters, said they enjoy spending time at the skating rink together.
"They just enjoy skating and we just wanted to have something to do in the winter that is safe and busy," Payne explained, "so we got a family pass and we try to come once or twice a week."
(McCloskey can be contacted at smccloskey@theintelligencer.net)