Fans of winter sports and family fun when the weather turns cold. The City of Kokomo is adding an ice skating rink to Kokomo Municipal Stadium. The skating rink, known as The Frozen Sandlot, will operate from Dec. 5, 2018 to January 13, 2019.
The 60-foot by 90-foot rink will feature real ice, unlike other temporary rinks which utilize artificial or synthetic ice-like materials. The rink will be placed close to the backstop so spectators and non-skaters can watch.
The City of Kokomo has chosen to partner with a local non-profit, Bridges Outreach. Bridges Outreach staff and operate the rink will keep the proceeds from ticket sales. In addition, concessions during skating hours will be run by The Coterie. A portion of the proceeds from concession sales will go to Bridges Outreach as well.
Admission is $10 for skaters (and includes skate rental) and $2 for non-skaters. Coupons for a $5 discount will be available at local businesses as well as online at thefrozensandlot.com. A list of the businesses with coupons as well as a full schedule of skating times will be available at the website.
Mayor Greg Goodnight sees this as a great opportunity for the community on several fronts.
“This allows us to utilize Municipal Stadium in the off-season,” Goodnight said. “Adding an amenity like ice skating makes the most of the stadium year round.”
The partnership with Bridges Outreach will pay dividends as well.
“We are excited to have new fun winter activity for families,” Goodnight said. “I am confident that having Bridges Outreach working with us will make it a success.”
Bridges Outreach will also integrate the rink with their job training program and workers from the program will be employed at the rink.
“We talked to the city about some kind of job training program in the past,” said Casey Cline of Bridges Outreach. “When the Mayor brought this opportunity to us, we saw it as a real positive in addition to being something great for the community.”
The skating rink will provide another outlet for those wishing to stay active during the winter months as well, according to Goodnight.
“Ice skating is a fun, family activity,” Goodnight said. “It’s a perfect mix of adding physical activity with something that’s really fun to do.”