Progress

By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
Bill O'Boyle on Facebook   |   @TLBillOBoyle on Twitter

WILKES-BARRE – The city held an ice breaker of sorts Tuesday morning as it opened the doors to the new Ice-A-Rama as the Penguins skated.

Read more Progress articles

click image to enlarge

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins work out at the new Ice-A-Rama in Coal Street Park Tuesday morning.

S. JOHN WILKIN/THE TIMES LEADER

click image to enlarge

Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton, right, talks about the new Ice-A-Rama at Coal Street Park with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Chief Financial Officer Greg Petorak, left, and President Rick Hixon Tuesday morning.

S. JOHN WILKIN/THE TIMES LEADER

Select images available for purchase in the
Times Leader Photo Store

The facility – the centerpiece of the nearly $14 million renovation of Coal Street Park – is the new practice facility for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and Mayor Tom Leighton said it shows the city is moving forward.

“This will be a year-round facility,” Leighton said. “It shows what can be done when government at all levels cooperate. This project is an example of the city’s commitment to replacing slum and blight with a first-rate park.”

The ice rink is part of Phase I of the renovation project. Just last week, Leighton and city officials opened a $200,000 playground on the site. Phase II is under construction. It will feature a two-story building that will house retail and commercial tenants and be the corporate headquarters of the Penguins organization.

The building will have 23,000 square feet of office space and another 18,000 square feet for leasing. Leighton said the city will begin entertaining proposals shortly.

The Ice-A-Rama will open to the public in early December, the mayor said, and is currently open to organized youth hockey leagues and the Penguins.

Until an operations management firm takes control, the Penguins are paying $275 an hour to use the ice, said Greg Barrouk, spokesman for the mayor.

“This is another example of private/public partnerships,” Leighton said. “We partnered with the most notable sports franchise in Wilkes-Barre and are proud to bring back this once blighted recreation facility back to its prominence in the Heights section of Wilkes-Barre.”

In addition to the ice rink and the playground, Coal Street Park will feature new lighting, security, baseball fields, a multipurpose field, basketball and tennis courts, and newly paved parking lots.

The ice rink will have 500 seats for the public to watch the Penguins practice or to view youth games. The ice rink will be available for other public skating.

The city received five bids from companies seeking to become the operations manager at the ice rink. They are: Rink Management Services Corp., Mechanicsville, Va.; American Skating Entertainment Centers, Phoenix; Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Plains Township; Global Ice Cap Rink Management, Exton; and Rink Management Solutions, North Haven, Conn.

Leighton said the management firm has been selected and the contract is being finalized. He declined to say who the successful bidder is.

The mayor credited John Koval, the city’s financial director, and Butch Frati, public works director, for their work on the project.

“This project has had its share of headaches and problems,” Leighton said. “My staff has worked very hard to get this project done. And it wouldn’t have happened without the support of Gov. (Ed) Rendell and Congressman (Paul) Kanjorski.”

Leighton said the city’s debt for the project is $5 million of the total $14 million project cost.

“We’re excited to be a part of this project,” said Rich Hixon, president of the Penguins. “This is a tremendous facility for the city and the region. We look forward to promoting youth hockey programs for area kids.”

The city is buying a Zamboni to care for the ice at the new rink. The ice-grooming machine will cost about $82,000, but city officials say it’s a necessary purchase.

To see additional photos, visit www.times

leader.com