Mishawaka's new ice rink to be unveiled Saturday at Winterfest

Greg Swiercz, South Bend Tribune
·4 min read

MISHAWAKA — Crews on Monday were painting the Ironworks ice ribbon in Beutter Park in anticipation of making ice and a bit of history as the city gets set to unveil its new ice facility, event center and café during Saturday's Winterfest celebration.

Phil Blasko, parks superintendent, said the white paint was going over the "black ice" base. Having a white layer between the base ice and the top layers helps slow the melting process for the new ice during the season when the sun shines and the weather gets a bit warm.

"This is the largest project I've been involved in, and it's the largest in the history of the parks department," Blasko said Tuesday. "This facility will allow us to be open seven days a week with a more efficient way to deliver all the amenities."

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The replacement for the ice rink at Merrifield Park will highlight Mishawaka's winter celebration in a big way. In addition to skating, the city will light its new Christmas tree, welcome Santa Claus on a fire truck, have a parade, offer food truck items and show the community the official completion of the downtown park development.

A worker makes some installations on a pole along the ice ribbon Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, at Ironworks Ice Rink/Events Center/Cafe in Beutter Park in downtown Mishawaka.
A worker makes some installations on a pole along the ice ribbon Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, at Ironworks Ice Rink/Events Center/Cafe in Beutter Park in downtown Mishawaka.

Blasko said the parade will begin about 5:30 p.m. around the Ironworks complex, with Mayor Dave Wood and Santa Claus showing up on the ice surface about 6 p.m.

The official lighting of the Christmas tree, located at the north end of the large ice surface to the east of the ribbon, will be about 6:15 p.m. before the first official ice skating session of the rink beginning at 6:30 p.m.

"We've created this brand-new venue," Mayor Dave Wood said during a recent media tour of the Ironworks complex. By placing it in the heart of downtown and by building a second story for the event center, the mayor said, it would give great views of the park, the river and downtown Mishawaka.

The new $19 million development completes the vision the city took on in 2003 to build on the land vacated by the demolition of the Uniroyal plant. The projects started with the Biergarten facility and the expansion of the Riverwalk before city leaders sought ideas on what to place in the downtown park.

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Wood credits his Mayor's Youth Council with the initial idea for a café in the downtown venue. As the city then pondered on what to do to replace the aging, 1963 Merrifield ice rink, it came up with the idea for the ice ribbon and also the events center that could take advantage of the views and the partnerships with downtown vendors to provide event management and services.

Winterfest downtown

All will be on display at Winterfest. The event runs from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday and will feature skating sessions on the ice rink, a parade of lights around the Ironworks complex, the lighting of the Christmas tree, carriage rides, trackless train rides, food vendors, market vendors and drinks at the Biergarten. For more information, go to the Mishawaka Parks and Recreation Department's Facebook page.

Blasko said the parks department also chose to offer ice bumper cars and "ice bykes" so people who do not skate can partake in the activities.

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"We are trying to cater to all categories, from seniors who cannot skate but can sit in an ice bumper car," Blasko said. "We want to reach all age groups, from youths to seniors and to all in the community."

The long Iines of new skates sit on shelves Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, at Ironworks Ice Rink/Events Center/Cafe in Beutter Park in downtown Mishawaka.
The long Iines of new skates sit on shelves Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, at Ironworks Ice Rink/Events Center/Cafe in Beutter Park in downtown Mishawaka.

Ice skating reservations

The Ironworks ice rink is a reservation-only venue. To reserve times, go to: checkout.roller.app/ironworksplaza

Costs for 90-minute open skating sessions, which include admission and skates, are:Youth $8Adult $11Skate Aids $3Field Trips (Monday-Thursday mornings) $5Bumper Cars - $10 for a 15-minute rideIcebkyes - $8 for a 15-minute ride

Season passes for the rink are:Individual $70Family $175

For more information on the daily hours for Ironworks Ice Rink, go to: mishawaka.in.gov/parks

Email Tribune staff writer Greg Swiercz at gswiercz@sbtinfo.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Winterfest 2022: Ice Rink opens at Beutter Park in Downtown Mishawaka