BOISE, Idaho — Glide on Grove, downtown Boise's new skating rink, opened Friday night after the holiday tree lighting.
Jennifer Hensley, Downtown Boise Association executive director, said they partnered with the Downtown Boise Foundation to make the skating rink a reality.
"Our team has been working very hard on this," she said. "We have a really dedicated group of people down here who are bringing this to everybody, and we're really excited."
The organizations started working on the rink, made from a synthetic material, about three years ago. Hensley said it took a long time to figure out the logistics of putting it at the Grove Plaza.
"The plaza was always the best place to put it," she said, "but it's not the most flat. We had some little issues to get around ... it took a long time to get all the engineering."
Once the details were all worked out, Hensley said they fundraised all the money to build, operate and maintain the rink for the next 10-12 years.
Skating at the rink is free. People have to sign a waiver before checking out equipment at Glide on Grove's rental shop, she said.
Each session lasts for 45 minutes. Hensley said they estimate about 90 people can get on the rink during that period.
Megan Kropacek brought her two boys to skate on opening night.
"I think it's a great addition to downtown," she said. [It] just kind of brings you into the holiday spirit."
Zoey Papenfuss agrees.
"We just thought it was a great opportunity to go skating because it's been years since we last skated," she said.
The rink will be open Wednesday through Sunday every week until the end of January. People can skate Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 4-8 p.m. and noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Hensley said those hours could change depending on demand. She encouraged interested community members to keep tabs on the association's website and Instagram for the latest information.
Watch more Local News:
See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist:
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET NEWS FROM KTVB:
Download the KTVB News Mobile App
Apple iOS: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Watch news reports for FREE on YouTube: KTVB YouTube channel
Stream Live for FREE on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching 'KTVB'.
Stream Live for FREE on FIRE TV: Search ‘KTVB’ and click ‘Get’ to download.