Wasilla plans community skating party

WASILLA — The City of Wasilla’s Parks and Recreation Department is encouraging area residents step out of the house and onto the lake Saturday for a community skating party.

Dubbed “Skate the Lake,” the event is scheduled from noon until 2 p.m. at Newcomb Park on Wasilla Lake. The city will provide hot chocolate and cookies at the pavilion.

Wasilla Mayor Bert Cottle said Wednesday the event will be a good opportunity for residents to get outside and enjoy an open skate at the downtown park.

“They have gotten the lights back up out there,” Cottle said of the string that lines the skating area. “The poles had been leaning with all the water that had accumulated on the lake (ice.)”

Public works crews are planning to clear a significant portion of the lake ice for skating, said Steve Murray, parks department facility supervisor and event coordinator. The city isn’t planning to have any burn barrels at Newcomb Park, Murray said, adding that the warmer weather should make for a comfortable afternoon.

“It should be a fun atmosphere, an opportunity for families to get out and enjoy themselves,” Murray said.

Those in the market for skates, skate sharpening or just lessons have a few options. In Wasilla, the borough-run Brett Memorial Ice Area has an open skate as well as classes, and skate sharpening is available. The Menard Center has classes and open skating times as well on its 85-by-200-foot ice sheet. The Action Pro Shop inside the Menard Center offers skate sharpening along with a selection of skates and hockey gear.

Both Sports Authority and Play-it-Again Sports offer new skates and sharpening services.

At Play-it-Again, manager Chrystal Wallace said the store also had a fairly balanced selection of used skates available.

“We have about a half a row each of used figure, hockey and goalie skates,” Wallace said.

In Palmer, the MTA Events Center is in the middle of its latest skating lesson run, which ends Feb. 19. The center also offers skate sharpening and a range of ice time opportunities that range from hockey to freestyle.

For more information about the Skate the Lake event, visit the City of Wasilla online at cityofwasilla.com.

Contact reporter Steven Merritt at 352-2269 or steven.merritt@frontiersman.com