In downtown Warren, skaters enjoy the ice

By Ed Runyan

WARREN — Apparently, there are still some people who didn’t get to try out Warren’s downtown ice skating rink last year who are giving it a try now.

“Last year we didn’t get to do it, so we’re going to do it this year,” said Cliff Thomas of Warren, adjusting his ice skates beside the Courthouse Square Ice Rink on Saturday afternoon.

Thomas couldn’t take his granddaughter, Janessa Mobley, 9, of Warren, to the ice rink last year because he was preparing to deploy with his Ohio National Guard unit, the 237th Brigade Support Battalion of Cleveland.

Thomas, 53, is a Philadelphia native who has lived in the Mahoning Valley for about 30 years. He has five grandchildren.

He has always loved taking his kids and grandkids to places such as Mill Creek Park in the wintertime to ride sleds and ice skate.

“Every minute I get to spend with them, that’s the highlight of my time home [from military service],” he said.

But it’s been quite a while since he got to take any of them ice skating.

“Outdoors has a special feel to it,” he said, watching his granddaughter glide around the rink surrounded by the Courthouse Square business district.

Josh Redmond and Jessica West of Champion were also among those taking advantage of a dry but cold day Saturday to give skating a try.

“It’s fun, definitely,” Redmond said. “We’ll come back next year.”

Mark Geer, general manager of the ice rink, said attendance has been down so far this year compared with last year, when the ice rink was installed the first time.

The rainy and rapidly changing weather over the first week of the rink’s opening was partly to blame, he said.

Some people have also questioned whether the city should be spending money to construct the facility in light of the $3 million budget shortfall that arose this fall, resulting in the layoff of about 40 employees, including police.

But Geer reiterated the remarks of Mayor Michael O’Brien that the city spent almost nothing on the rink, with almost every cost paid by the business and philanthropic group Trumbull 100.

The only cost to the city Geer is aware of is for a couple of workers to hook up electricity to the rink, he said.

Geer said he has heard some people say they don’t know how to skate. He has a simple answer for that: “Try it.”

Geer noted that the rink is larger this year than last year and has smoother ice than before.

Though the price is up from last year to $7 per person (the price includes skate rental), Geer said he is trying to organize as many reduced-price days as possible.

He suggests calling the rink at (330) 372-7465 to check on specials or visiting the Web site at www.warrenicerink.com.

runyan@vindy.com