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Marion plans ice ribbon at Central Plaza with Nov. 29 opening and rental operations
Summary
Recreation staff outlined operations for a downtown ice ribbon/ribbon rink: skate rentals, warming house and concessions; staff proposed Nov. 29 grand opening, training in November and a 45-minute Zamboni schedule; council and staff discussed staffing, attendance projections and weather/ice safety policies.
Marion Recreation staff presented a detailed operational plan for a winter "ice loop" in Central Plaza, aiming to open for Small Business Saturday on Nov. 29 and to offer skate rentals, admissions, a warming house and concessions.
Kelly Willitson, recreation superintendent, said staff will relocate the snack shack to the depot to house rentals and admissions, and that operations will focus on affordability and partnerships with Uptown and the Chamber. Key dates include staff training in November and a planned season that the presentation described in a timeline as spanning September through February for planning and operations.
"We are looking at opening on this Saturday, November 29," Willitson said. The plan calls for a routine resurfacing schedule (Zamboni) approximately every 45 minutes during active operations, and a flag/sign system with social media and a hotline to inform users whether conditions are safe. Staff indicated the ice will be relatively thin (3/4" to 1"), with resurfacing building and maintaining the surface.
Council asked about staffing and attendance planning. Staff said posted seasonal positions will be open to current recreation employees and external applicants; models use comparables (Des Moines, Bettendorf) and the city purchased 150 pairs of skates for rentals. Projected attendance figures (weekday and weekend ranges) were based on capacity and comparables and will be refined after the first year of operations.
Next steps: staff will post positions, finalize fees (October) and continue coordination with Uptown and the Chamber. The first season will be treated as trial and error with adjustments expected.
Why it matters: The ice loop is a new downtown amenity expected to boost winter activity and support Uptown businesses; city leaders emphasized affordability and operational safety.
