Mild Winter Cuts Boyce Park Ski Season Short

This was just not the year for local winter sports enthusiasts.

The Boyce Park ski slopes in Plum Borough closed for the season on Monday. This year, the slopes opened in January, almost one month after they were scheduled to open. The tubing area never did open for the season.

Allegheny County spokesman Kevin Evanto said the ski area only was open for 30 days this season, compared to 57 days of sking and tubing last year.

"We didn't have as many days where we could make snow this year," he said. "We'd make it when we could, but we didn't get a very good base. It was hard to keep it because we'd get milder days after cold ones."

Because Boyce Park isn't as high in elevation as Seven Springs or Hidden Valley, it was more difficult to keep the ski area functioning.

Revenue and attendance obviously dropped. This year, 3,480 people visited the ski slopes versus last year's 7,751—a difference of 4,271 visitors.

The slopes also earned $75,330—$126,836 less than last year.

However, Evanto said the parks department didn't have to spend as much money on operations or on road salt this year. People also frequented the North Park and South Park ice skating rinks and golf courses a lot more this season.

"It's not enough to make up for the revenue loss, but it certainly helps," he said. "Everything tends to balance out in the end.

"We saw a lot more people jogging, biking and walking in Boyce Park, but it's a shame for the people who like to participate in winter sports. It wasn't a good year for them, and we're just as disappointed as they are."

Editor's Note: The ice skating rink at in Oakmont never opened this season. .