Ice Skating Comes to Riverside Park this Winter

Riverside Park should be full of activity this winter as Oakmont Borough Council approved the purchase and installation of a temporary ice skating rink on Monday.

Recreation board member Tom Bland told council that the board wanted to purchase the largest rink available —a 164-by-88-foot liner totaling $9,146 plus shipping. It will be installed on the Riverview High School football field.

“It’s worth getting the larger size so the community can use it for what they want,” board member Molly Merlino said. She said Fox Chapel has a smaller rink and are in the process of purchasing another one because it was too small.

“A larger rink will let the skaters spread out,” she said. “Little kids who are learning to skate can be away from the older kids and adults.”

The total includes a Zamboni, kick plate and repair kit. Bland said an additional $2,000 is needed to purchase a snow blower, two trailers for storing the liner and accessories, and other miscellaneous items.

The borough, however, is not responsible for paying for the rink.

“We have donations and are planning more fund raising,” Bland said. “We’re also looking for a major sponsor.”

Currently, the recreation board is waiting to hear from the Pittsburgh Penguins Organization.

“The Penguins may contribute,” Merlino said. “We submitted a proposal and we’re waiting to hear back from them. We should hear something mid-week.”

So far, the recreation board has received $5,400.

Oakmont Council President Tim Favo commended the members of the recreation board for their work on this project.

“You’ve done an excellent job getting the majority of the money and leads for more,” he told them.

The liner and accessories will be stored in the two trailers and housed under the bleachers near the high school during the time the rink is not in use.

“These things will only take up about 25 to 30 percent of the under-bleacher area,” Bland said. The use of a grant received by the Riverview Athletic Association will pay for a chain link fence and some additional work will create a secure storage area under the bleachers.

Many other details are in the works, including temporary lighting of the rink, rules for the rink, and whether the concessions will be available.

“We’d like to see that happen,” Merlino said. “We’re in discussions with members of the Riverview Athletic Association, Riverside Women's Association and PTO to see if they would volunteer to run the concessions.”

Members of those groups also are being tapped to supervise the rink during skating times and provide instruction for hockey clinics.

Merlino outlined a tentative schedule that has the rink open the week of Christmas until the last day of February. Saturday mornings will be “tot time” where younger children can skate, the afternoon will see hockey clinics for three different levels and the rest of the time will have open skating.

According to Bland, the liner will be ordered this week and take about six weeks to arrive.