News

Ice rink constructed at Stotzky Park; now we wait for freeze

PAUL SQUIRE PHOTO | Town workers installing the temporary ice rink Thursday in Stotzky Park.

Town employees assembled a portable ice rink inside the hockey boards at Riverhead’s Stotzky park Thursday afternoon.

The 68-by-160-foot rink, built out of tubing and a polyurethane liner, will be filled with water Friday and will take three days of freezing temperatures to freeze over, officials said.

The rink, built by Porta-Rinx of East Montpelier, Vt., will be free to the public this year, though Riverhead Councilman George Gabrielsen has said the town may charge in the future if ice hockey leagues or other groups want to use the rink.

The portable rink cost the town nearly $5,000 including shipping and assembly charges, Mr. Gabrielsen said, adding that it was a cheap investment for the community.

“We’ve got the lights here so we’re planning to keep it open at nighttime,” he said.

The town will lay artificial turf around the rink to prevent skaters from ruining their skates on the concrete and will open the rink as soon as the weather gets colder.

[nggallery id=299 template=galleryview]