Rob Kerth has been getting plenty of Zamboni action the last few nights. Midtown Business Association's executive director has been staying up late and going out in the early-morning dark to use the ice groomer to help create an ice-skating rink that opens at 10 a.m. Friday in Midtown. "It's a tremendous amount of work to put up one of these portable rinks," Kerth said Wednesday. "I've been there until 4 in the morning at least five out of the last 10 days." While most business association ... Suzanne sacpressreader123 2009-12-08T02:08:16Z 2009-12-08T02:08:16Z

I also think that this could have been planned better. But, honestly, in this economy I am just glad to have the midtown ice rink this year. It was nice to see the MBA and private sector step up and keep this tradition alive. Kudos to the sponsors of this project and people who worked on it.

sacpressreader123 2009-12-08T02:08:16Z jgb1mookie 2009-11-28T15:38:16Z 2009-11-28T15:38:16Z

Very sad that the city did not get any feedback on this project from the residents that live next to it prior to building it. I live 22 steps from the rink. Notification to the residents that the street was closing came 2 weeks to the day AFTER the street actually closed. Construction when it was being built started at 5:30 am (that is hammering, generators, power saws, etc.)---not very conducive to sleep, especially on saturday and sunday. Parking just from closing the street became a nightmare and now with skaters added to this, is impossible. And the location means residents have to go 5 blocks out of the way every time they want to get home because J and I streets are one way and I street is not a through street. During second saturdays, residents were issued specal parking permits. this is going on for a few months and no special permits are being offered to the residents. As a former northerner, I like the idea of a downtown rink, but 1 block south (between L and K) would have been MUCH better: no immediate residents to have to deal with constant noise and music, better traffic flow, less parking impact, better walking since the street is not as narrow, less visual pollution--the big tractor trailor across the street truly ruins the nice tree-lined neighborhood view, and only 2 businesses would be blocked instead of the 6-10 that are in the current block. Why did the rink have to be built at the expense of changing the the whole character of the street?? Not a good plan folks.!

jgb1mookie 2009-11-28T15:38:16Z savemidtown 2009-11-21T05:06:54Z 2009-11-21T05:06:54Z

I was in the area last week before the opening and parking was already a nightmare - MBA's parking mitigation plans are insufficient. Lack of parking will frustrate potential patrons, residents and business owners. Again - residents are very supportive of the rink being here - don't misunderstand, but it needs to be well managed and from what we saw even before opening - that wasn't happening.

savemidtown 2009-11-21T05:06:54Z Jacqueline Dotson 2009-11-20T21:23:52Z 2009-11-20T21:23:52Z

I am so excited about this. I have some years of figure skating lessons under my belt, so I am going to come on down and show off whatever moves I might have left... any word on where I can get my ancient blades sharpened in this town???

Jacqueline Dotson 2009-11-20T21:23:52Z r8rs1 2009-11-20T21:16:20Z 2009-11-20T21:16:20Z

yes the Midtown Business Association and its members plus sponsors are footing the bill. We expect to bring 30+ thousand people down to midtown throughout the holdiay period to enjoy the rink as well as our great retail establishments that surround it ...please come and bring a friend

r8rs1 2009-11-20T21:16:20Z Dale Kooyman 2009-11-20T17:39:02Z 2009-11-20T17:39:02Z

I may be misinformed but it is my understanding that MBA is footing the bill for this. You could call Midtown Business Association to find out. My hope is that the rainy/stormy weather will not reduce the crowd. AND that the crowd who skates will patronize Midtown businesses. I don't think that was the case downtown, but I may be wrong.

Dale Kooyman 2009-11-20T17:39:02Z thsas 2009-11-20T16:48:57Z 2009-11-20T16:48:57Z

Is this fully funded by the private sector?

thsas 2009-11-20T16:48:57Z Kati Garner 2009-11-20T15:07:59Z 2009-11-20T15:07:59Z

Great narrative on how the rink was 'born'!

Kati Garner 2009-11-20T15:07:59Z