The Wapello Ice Rink; photo courtesy of the City of Wapello

The City of Wapello is bringing a bit of free wintertime recreation to citizens in the form of a new enclosed ice rink. According to Wapello Mayor Shawn Maine, the north end shelter house at the fairgrounds has been emptied and repurposed as a recreational ice skating rink. It will be open to the public as soon as it’s completely frozen. Maine says the city decided it would be a low-cost way to give children something fun to do in the winter. They initially planned on setting it up outside, but decided against it due to potential wind and snow. Additionally, they had a shelter at the fairgrounds that wasn’t being used, so the city decided it would be an ideal spot for the project.

Maine says the city used a kit, that he called an “ice skating rink in a box,” which only took a few hours to set up and fill. The kit is reusable, so they plan on opening the rink to the public every winter from now on. When the city announced the skating rink to the public, Maine says the response was immediate and overwhelmingly positive. He explains, “Basically, I posted it on our City of Wapello Facebook page, and it really took off. People were just in awe that we did this. And now they’re talking about adding hockey and getting teams together, and I’m like, ‘Whoa whoa! This is supposed to be a little recreational thing.’ But you know, if it goes over real well, we’ll buy another one. We’ll set one up outside perhaps so that the kids, if they want to do a little hockey, they can have their own rink for hockey.” The rink will not be providing skate rentals or concessions, but it will be free to the public and stay open until 10 p.m. Maine says the city will let the public know when the ice is ready via their Facebook page.