Wheaton ice rink unnecessary frill

From watching the news, it appears many people are losing their jobs, their homes and much of their retirement nest egg. These are hard economic times. That is everywhere, but not at the Wheaton Park District.

The Wheaton Park District is planning to install a $217,000 ice skating rink, complete with generator and freezer mat in Kelly Park, at Main and Elm streets. This would be logical if the Chicago Blackhawks were to open their training facility there. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

For the past 40 years, Kelly Park has sported an ice rink made with water, snow for a border and Mother Nature’s cold. On average, the rink begins about Dec. 15 and concludes mid-February. The cost, according to the park district, to make and maintain the rink is about $3,000 per year.

The new rink will last a little longer and probably be a little better with a more consistent ice surface, but is it really necessary in these economic times?

But hey, we’re Wheaton and it’s well-worth it. Or are we?

Bill Hawke

Wheaton