NEW BERN, N.C. — Although Eastern North Carolina isn’t quite cold enough for a skating rink with real ice, the parks and recreation staff in New Bern found a way to bring more of winter to the coast.
What You Need To Know
- A synthetic ice skating rink opened in New Bern for the holiday season
- The fake ice is made of a self-lubricating plastic
- The rink will be open through the end of the year
New Bern got creative this year by opening a synthetic ice skating rink in Union Point Park just for the holiday season.
Cold weather, sparkling lights and Christmas music complete the atmosphere as people of all ages strap on a pair of skates and head for the rink.
“It’s making our town look like a Hallmark town,” Ginger Sims said. “And we’re really excited about that.”
Ginger Sims is in charge of these special projects. Every day, staff with New Bern parks and recreation come out and get ready for a busy evening.
“We all decided that would be a really great thing to bring to the community,” Sims said. “And so we decided this was the year.”
She says she’s had lots of people come up to her and thank her for bringing this activity to New Bern.
“It’s exactly why I got in the business,” Sims said. “Public service is something my heart absolutely follows, and it’s something I want to spend the rest of my life doing.”
She says she wants to give back to her community and loves to see the impacts of her work.
“You’re able to see the quality of life improvements in the area, improvements and how you can encourage people to want to move here, live here, vacation here,” Sims said. “Because of your work, you’re bringing joy to the community. And that’s what it’s all about.”
Sims says this rink actually made of a special type of self-lubricating plastic that is much easier to maintain in the variable Eastern North Carolina weather.
Although she hasn’t been in ice skates since she was little, Sims says she has lots of great memories associated with them.
Now she’s content to watch others make their own. It’s been such a hit that Sims says she has no doubt they’ll bring it back next year unless there’s some unforeseen circumstance.
For now, the rink will stay through the end of the year. Skating costs five dollars for a 45 minute session, which includes ice skate rentals. The hours are posted online.