Ice rink could skate into downtown

An ice rink could skate into downtown Carson City for the winter if city supervisors agree to the plan.

The 56-foot by 85-foot temporary rink could be built by Ice Rink Events across from the Carson Nugget at the corner of North Carson and Spear streets and open Dec. 4 through the middle of February if the city agrees to partner with the Nugget to pay half of the $134,000 cost.

Supervisors will vote on the plan at their meeting 8:30 a.m. Thursday in the Sierra Room of the Carson City Community Center.

This would be the first ice rink of its kind for the city and help promote downtown, according to a report by Supervisor Robin Williamson.

What would be called the Arlington Square Ice Rink after the former Arlington Hotel and pay for itself through money raised from tickets and ad sales, Williamson said in the report.

Ice Rink Events is the largest U.S. business that operates seasonal ice rinks, according to the company. It has installed ice rinks for the Salt Lake Winter Olympics, New York and San Jose, Calif.

Dave Fies, an Ice Rink Events project manager, said the company installs an ice rink by putting a cooling tube on a flat surface that looks like a "giant sandbox" and then filling that space with water.

The temporary rink is a good idea in the winter, he said, because "everyone associates the holidays with ice skating."