CAPE MAY- After a five year hiatus, roller skating has returned to Convention Hall.
After the 1962-era Convention Hall was declared structurally unsound and closed its doors in 2008, residents and visitors lost their venue to roller skate.
The activity resumed Jan. 18 in the new hall and will continue through April 7
Mayor Edward J. Mahaney Jr. said roller skating was off to a healthy start. On opening day Jan. 18, 59 skaters were gliding across the floor.
On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 287 participants paid to skate in Convention Hall, he said, and about another 70 customers came to watch.
Mahaney said in one weekend, the skating program was restored to its full activity level.
He said most of the skaters and some city staffers had participated in the program in the old Convention Hall and they saw no difference in the new facility in the technical aspects.
“The rink is certainly more than adequate in size and for safety with the number of people that we have,” said the mayor.
He said the amenities available to roller skaters in the new facility are an improvement over the old Convention Hall, in particular, a larger area for skaters to rest. The Solarium section of Convention Hall, which overlooks the ocean and beach, is available as a seating area and a place to purchase food and beverages, said Mahaney.
Roller skating in Convention Hall is a tradition stretching more than 40 years. Mahaney recalled a team formed in the 1970s to compete in roller skating championships.
“This was the number one activity which the taxpayers of the City of Cape May wanted in the new hall when we had the public sessions….” said the mayor.
He said roller skating is the activity that gets the largest amount of requests from the public for information from city hall. Mahaney noted there are very few roller skating rinks left in the region and those require considerable travel time from Cape May County.
Convention Hall has a full service program featuring 280 pairs of roller skates available for rental.
Mahaney said it is not difficult to tear down the rink when a show or other event is scheduled for the hall. He said it takes about 90 minutes for the changeover.
Open roller skating is offered on Fridays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., on Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Guests may bring their own standard or in-line skates or they can rent them. Admission fee is $5 per person. Skate rental is $2 for traditional skates and $4 for in-line skates. Admission for non-skaters is $2.
The skating program offers an early day toddler skate, birthday parties, and private parties. For information, contact the Recreation Department at (609) 884-9526 for more information.
Photos by Robert Newkirk
