Bathing Suit, Sunscreen…Ice Skates? Stone Harbor Council Considers Synthetic Ice Rink

STONE HARBOR –– Pack your beach bag and don’t forget your bathing suit, sunscreen and…ice skates? The borough’s recreation department is looking to add a shore side ice skating rink.
Robert Valvano, a representative for the Marturano Recreation Company, pitched a synthetic skating product called Scan-Ice, made of poly ethylene, to borough council at its meeting Oct. 7.
Council member Anne Wannen, chair of the Beach and Recreation Committee, told the Herald the borough is considering the purchase of a removable skating surface on one of the boroughs many recreation courts, most likely at the 80th Street Recreation Complex.
Eight-foot by four-foot pieces connect together, similar to a jigsaw puzzle, over any level surface, such as a tennis, basketball or shuffleboard court, to create the skating area. Valvano said a rubber mallet is the only tool needed for installation and it is expected to last ten or more years. He said pieces can be replaced as needed and seams will not wear away from multiple reinstallations.
The material costs $18 per square-foot and includes delivery, installation, a five year warranty and the first application of a glider lubrication. The “Glider” must be applied and maintained about every ten days as well as a cleaner product every two weeks, Valvano said. The “Glider” product, he said, costs $225 for a three-gallon container, which depending on amount of use, would last about half of a year.
The company also carries a bumper system to go around the surface however, he said, it’s not needed if installed inside an already gated area.
The entire project would likely total $100,000, Wannen said. Therefore over ten years the investment would average $10,000 per year. She said the project has the potential to pay for itself and the Beach and Recreation Committee will discuss fees.
Wannen said the funds are available in the borough’s recreation budget and she would like to see the project implemented before her term expires at the end of December.
Wannen said the idea started as a suggestion from Public Works Director Gregory Sheeran. Then Wannen and Councilman Barry Mastrangelo traveled to see the Old Bridge Youth Hockey Team’s 8,500 square-foot rink, half of which has Scan-Ice.
“The coalition of friction is similar to ice,” Valvano said. “Most kids who tried it rated it at eight or nine out of ten. It takes a little getting used to though,” he said.
Wannen asked how and sun, salt air and sand would affect the product. Valvano said UV rays and salt air would not affect the material. He said a leaf blower or squeegee could be used to remove sand.
Valvano said the product is already popular for figure skating in several parts of Europe.
Overall, residents were receptive to the idea.
“It would give recreation activity for kids at a difficult age,” John Hencheck said.
“It’s exciting to try to do something unique and different,” Planning Board member and Council-elect Joanne Vaul said. “Though I don’t feel totally informed and wouldn’t want to vote on it today.”
“It would make a perfect place to have (Christmas) tree lighting and caroling, like our own little Rockefeller Plaza,” Barbara Hencheck said. “It could extend the whole recreation experience…can you imagine a beach hockey team?”
Wannen, with competition in mind, said, “If we don’t do it, Avalon will.”
Contact Truluck at (609) 886-8600 ext. 24 or at: ltruluck @cmcherald.com.