The outdoor recreational skating rink at Bielenberg Sports Center (BSC) is a hot spot in town in the winter. The standard hockey-size rink with glass dasher boards draws families, teens, couples and seniors who can enjoy ice skating mid-November to mid-March for a bargain: skating is free and rented skates are $5.
Opened November 2014, the outdoor rink was part of BSC’s expansion project. “The rink was designed to provide a dedicated area for recreational skaters,” says Bob Klatt, city of Woodbury park and recreation director. “It’s getting fabulous usage; popular times are weekends during the day and early evenings.” Klatt estimates approximately 17,000 skaters used the rink last season from November 2014 to March 2015.
For skaters, the rink design offers convenient access to BSC’s lobby and ample area for putting on skates. There’s an outdoor window for concession service, and an inviting, large circular gas fire pit with seating.
“Many of the skaters are people who would not otherwise have a reason to use BSC because they are not involved in the organized sports which are dominant activities there, both inside the building and in the surrounding fields,” Klatt says. “The primary goal of the outdoor rink was to provide more recreational options at BSC so that all members of the community would have a reason to visit and use the facilities.”
In addition to skating, the rink is used for mini mite hockey, broomball and skating events. According to Klatt, the goal for next spring is to surface the rink for recreational sports including volleyball, basketball and pickleball. —Debbie Musser
BSC Outdoor Recreational Rink
The rink is open during most times the building is open, 6 a.m.-10 p.m. daily except holidays, during maintenance and extreme weather conditions. For the skating schedule visit the website.
