MLK Jr. Park Ice Rink Breaks Attendance Records

Thanks to Mother Nature, skaters of all ages enjoyed old-fashioned pond skating free of charge this winter at the MLK Jr. Park Ice Rink, a designated BlueCross BlueShield Healthy Zone. In fact, attendance topped the rink’s first season by more than 360%.

“It was a wonderful season of skating at Martin Luther King Jr. Park,” said Mayor Byron Brown. “The number of people who laced up their skates was off the charts and I’m especially pleased to see that our city’s new $4.5 million state-of-the-art all-season water feature at MLK Park is becoming a regional attraction. I thank Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy and BlueCross Blue Shield of WNY for their partnership.”

Mayor Brown and BlueCross BlueShield of WNY president and CEO Dave Anderson opened the rink for its second season on January 9, 2015. “The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy is proud to see the increase in community skating and support for the ice rink at MLK Jr. Park. We look forward to warmer weather with the sounds of splashing and laughter,” said Stephanie Crockatt, Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy’s interim executive director. “We would not be successful without our partners at the City and BCBS-WNY and thank them for helping us grow this into a beautiful, beneficial and active healthy zone year-round.”

With warmer temperatures just around the corner, park users will be able to enjoy the basin’s reflecting pool this spring and cool off in the splash pad this summer. Complete details regarding park hours of operation can be found on the Conservancy’s website at www.bfloparks.org.

The basin is part of the city’s $4.5 million all-season water attraction that opened as a splash pad during the summer of 2013, and then as a reflecting pool during the spring and fall. Located in the heart of one of Buffalo’s historic Olmsted parks, the ice rink is part of a larger plan for the MLK Jr. Park neighborhood that sets the groundwork to attract new residents and business owners who want to live, work and invest in Buffalo.

MLK, Jr. Park Ice Skating History
The present brick casino was constructed between the lily pond and the wading pool in 1926. In 1956, the first of Buffalo’s refrigerated outdoor artificial ice rinks was constructed on the site of the lily basin. The lily pool was partly filled and a wading pool was constructed at its eastern end. The wading pool was partially filled, and transformed into a smaller circular concrete “spray pool,” while its grand dimensions and grassy banks were retained.


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