AUGUST 2014 – Redlands On Ice
The clock is ticking, counting down the arrival of Redland’s first ice skating rink scheduled to arrive this December. Presented by the Redlands Chamber of Commerce and The Rochford Foundation, and sponsored by the City of Redlands, the rink announcement has created quite a stir in Redlands and beyond.
“In the sweltering heat of July we have been getting inquiries about the ice rink.” said Kathie Thurston, Chamber Executive Director, with a smile. “It’s very exciting for all of us at the Chamber to bring such an extraordinary event to town. “
Thurston said the Board of Directors thought long and hard about the costly event but saw the benefit to not only chamber members but the entire community. The novelty of ice skating in Southern California has proven to be successful in other communities so chamber leaders decided there was no better community to host a rink.
“We expect to appeal to children having a first time experience on ice, to teens trying something new and fun, to adults taking a trip down memory lane and for others testing their skills. It really is an event that works for everyone.” Said Daney Bachiu, chamber past president.
Redlands on Ice will be located in the northwest corner of the Redlands Mall parking lot, open for skating December 26th through January 1st, noon to 10 PM each day.
While many have asked why just a week and why after Christmas Thurston noted that thoughtful discussion was had when determining the schedule. The Board sees this first effort at skating in Redlands as a test of the appeal of an Ice rink in downtown during the holidays, and also considered the impact it would have on competing holiday events and even parking in downtown during the pre-holiday shopping season.
When asked if there would be food vendors brought in Thurston replied “No, we sincerely hope that visitors to the rink will visit our local restaurants before or after skating and do a little post-holiday shopping. We will invite non-profit organizations to set up booths if they choose to do so but will be encouraging our skaters to take advantage of the local fare.”
The Redlands on Ice website, www.Redlandsonice.com, will be launched in August allowing the curious to learn more about the rink, the schedule, the cost and even purchase tickets.