Warren square to get ice rink

Various groups are
planning events for the six weeks the rink will be in Warren.

BY MAYSOON ABDELRASUL

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

WARREN — City leaders say they want to attract more people to downtown Warren in the winter, and they think an ice skating rink will do just that.

Last summer, city council passed an ordinance allotting $65,000 to pay for an electricity upgrade in Courthouse Square for the ice skating rink.

Mayor Michael O’Brien said that Courthouse Square needed an electric upgrade, and the ice skating rink was a good reason to upgrade it now. He said the upgrade will be used for other events in Courthouse Square

“This is an upgrade of 25 years,” he said.

O’Brien said the city has paid approximately $40,000 to date for the upgrade.

Frank Tempesta, city director of operations, said his department has put down about 250 tons of sand to level out the ground for when the ice skating rink is placed.

Frozen Water L.P., of Woodland, Texas, is scheduled to arrive Nov. 15 to begin installing the 42-by-85-foot rink. The rink will be open to the public Nov. 30.

Trumbull 100, a group of business people, provided the initial $15,000 to begin the project. John Taylor, past president of Trumbull 100, said the project could not have been accomplished without the city’s approval. Trumbull 100 also found sponsors to help pay for the cost of the rink. The sponsors will have their logo printed around the rink.

Taylor noted many organizations and businesses are working together to make sure this is a success for the city. Warren Grows, the Wean Foundation and the Warren Business Association are either donating money or helping in planning events for the six weeks the rink will be in Warren.

“This is a lot of people working together,” Taylor said.

The city of Cuyahoga Falls, an hour away from Warren, installs an ice skating rink every winter that draws people to the downtown area. It is located in Falls River Square.

Jennifer Syx, deputy director of development for Cuyahoga Falls, said about 20,000 people visit the ice skating rink throughout the season.

O’Brien said when he looked into the idea of the ice skating rink, he saw that the one in Cuyahoga Falls is a success — and he said he believes it will be a success in Warren as well.