Wellman Skating Rink ready for summer

By Molly Roberts
Posted 4/26/22

The Wellman Skating Rink seems a little brighter lately. Manager Brenda Reasor has started selling a variety of glowing toys, such as bracelets, necklaces, hair clips, glasses, scrunchies and even …

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Wellman Skating Rink ready for summer

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The Wellman Skating Rink seems a little brighter lately. Manager Brenda Reasor has started selling a variety of glowing toys, such as bracelets, necklaces, hair clips, glasses, scrunchies and even mustaches.

“It’s been going really well,” Reasor said. “The kids love all the glow stuff, and they look really cool when it’s dark. It’s adorable to see them when they’re all decked out in glow items and they’re out there rolling around on skates.”

The rink is also selling their own t-shirts, featuring an oval rink with “Wellman Skating Rink” in the middle and a pair of skates. Reasor said she hopes to start selling personalized merchandise in the future, as well.

Going into the summer months, Reasor has made several changes to the skating rink, everything from offering board games for visitors who might not want to skate, to installing parts of an all-new sound system.

The sound system was funded in part by a fundraiser the rink held at the Washington Pizza Ranch in early April, raising almost $1,000.

“It’s going to hang from the center of the rink, so it’s going to be more of surround-sound feel. The old one was terrible, and it finally just died on us,” Reasor said. “Some of the equipment we have now is borrowed, but the new system, once it all gets here, is going to be amazing because it already sounds so much better.”

Starting June 6, the rink will be open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The rink will be closed for the entire month of August to allow staff to make renovations and improvements to the space.

The rink will kick off the summer with an End of School Skate Party on Sunday, May 31 from 2:30-6 p.m. And during the City-Wide Garage Sales on May 7, the rink will be open for a half-price ($3) skate from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. The event is designed for parents to be able to drop their children off at the rink, where volunteers from the Wellman-Scofield Public Library will help supervise the skaters. All proceeds from the day will go to the library.

The rink is also hosting one adult skate night per month, with the summer’s dates set as May 20, June 17 and July 22. There are two sessions: one from 6-8 p.m. and another from 8:30-10:30.

“The first session is usually smaller, and it’s generally an older crowd,” Reasor said. “But then the later session runs a little younger with a lot of college kids. It depends on what you’re looking for: if you’re looking for a party, come to the second one. If you’re looking for a mellow skate and socialization, hit up the first one.”

The adult skaters are allowed to bring their own alcohol on these nights, but must refrain from bringing glass bottles.

Over the past several months, Reasor has expanded the menu of snacks available at the rink. She said the food sales have been “outstanding.”

Many school districts have jumped at the opportunity to host parties at the Wellman Skating Rink, such as Fairfield, Mid-Prairie, Washington and Sigourney. Private parties are also going well and during the summer, the rink will be available to rent for private parties Monday-Friday.

For questions about the rink and its offerings, email skatingrink@cityofwellman.com or visit cityofwellman.com/skating_rink.