Skaters can aid Mt. Prospect history on President's Day

On Presidents' Day, Feb. 16, local schoolchildren and their parents will have the opportunity to enjoy a roller skating party being held to help preserve Mount Prospect's 1896 Central School and to support the Mount Prospect Historical Society. The party will be held from noon to 5 p.m. at the Central Community Center, 1000 W. Central Road, Mount Prospect.

For the 11th consecutive year, the Mount Prospect Historical Society, in cooperation with the Mount Prospect Park District, is hosting the party to support their efforts to preserve Mount Prospect history, explains Kirsten Zinzer, skating party chairperson.

In 2012, the society kicked off a five-year campaign to complete the restoration of Central School which the society relocated and saved in 2008. Work is currently underway to reinforce the floor to current standards, as well as to build an interior staircase to the basement storage area, according to Lindsay Rice, executive director.

Once restored, the schoolhouse will be used as a multi-purpose exhibit space, educational facility and community meeting area in the tradition of its previous roles in village history.

Admission for the skating party will be $5 per person. A limited number of skates will be available for rental from the park district at an additional cost of $5. But it is suggested that skaters bring in their own skates, which will be subject to inspection by park district personnel to prevent damage to the rink.

Disc jockey services for the afternoon are being provided by Ed Johnson, a member of the society's board of directors.

While the skating party is open to students from all schools in the village, the society and the park district do request that children in fourth grade and under be accompanied by a parent.

Pop and snacks will only be available this year through the park district's vending machines.

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