Good News

September 15, 2009

Ice, ice baby: Frozen floor just beginning at Coal St. Park

The Ice-A-Rama work is part of the $14 million renovation of Wilkes-Barre city attraction.

By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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WILKES-BARRE – A big chill is coming to Coal Street Park this week – water that will become the new ice rink at the Ice-A-Rama will be poured and skating will soon follow.

Mayor Tom Leighton said Penguins will arrive shortly after the frozen floor is done. The facility will be the new practice facility for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins – the American Hockey League affiliate of the National Hockey League champion Pittsburgh Penguins. The team’s corporate offices and merchandise store will locate to the site at a later date.

The Ice-A-Rama work is part of the $14 million renovation of Coal Street Park.

Leighton said he is excited at the prospects of having a “state-of-the-art” facility in town and he is especially proud of getting the project done during the current economic downturn.

“We’re confident that the new park will be a great economic boost to the city and to the region,” Leighton said. “It will attract people from throughout the area and beyond.”

Leighton said cooperation from all levels of government made the project happen. Luzerne County has pledged $1 million, the state came up with $4.5 million and another $3.59 million came from federal funds. Leighton said the city has contributed $4.56 million.

There is no firm date for completion, but skating is expected to start within a few weeks.

The Penguins are one of five organizations that submitted bids to become the Ice-A-Rama’s management company. Leighton said the bids are still being reviewed and he expects a contract to be awarded soon.

The four bidders in addition to the Penguins are: Rink Management Services Corporation, Mechanicsville, Va.; American Skating Entertainment Centers, Phoenix, Ariz.; Global Ice Cap Rink Management, Exton; Rink Management Solutions, North Haven, Conn.

The new park will feature much more than the ice rink. There will be walking trails, a handicap-accessible playground, athletic fields, tennis and basketball courts, and a new two-story building that will house retail and commercial space. New parking lots will be added, as well as brighter lighting and security cameras to help ensure public safety.

Jeff Barrett, chief executive officer of the Penguins, said he’s eager to move into the new facility.

“We’re excited about whole project,” Barrett said. “This will be great for the city great and great for the community.”

Barrett said the Penguins won’t be using the ice rink much this fall because they will be housed at the Wachovia Arena in preparation of the upcoming 2009-10 season. Training camp starts with physicals on Wednesday, Barrett said, and practice begins Thursday. The season opener is Oct. 3.

“We want to give back to the community,” Barrett said. “We plan on helping with junior programs to get more kids involved in hockey.”

Leighton said there will be open skating time, as well as designated times for figure skating and other events.

Barrett said the team will move its offices on-site once Phase 2 is completed.

Phase 2 will be the two-story office complex, Leighton said. The concrete slab foundation is complete and the building will go up soon.

“Hopefully, the retail rentals will support the ice rink operation,” Leighton said.

The mayor said the Coal Street area will be enhanced when an $18 million road widening and extension project begins next year. He said the project will create direct access from Interstate 81 to downtown Wilkes-Barre and will improve traffic flow for some of the 14,000 commuters who work in the downtown each day.

Bill O’Boyle, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7218.

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