By Morgan Pilz, Staff Writer

(Feb. 6, 2020) The Berlin Fire Company will install a portable synthetic ice rink inside its facility for use for the entire month of March, the organization said during a quarterly report to the Berlin mayor and Town Council last Monday.

Photo courtesy Brianna Dix
Children, many of whom were first-time skaters, broke in the new synthetic ice rink during the
Elves on the Loose event at the Worcester County Recreation Center in Snow Hill on Dec. 20.

“We are in the process of bringing [the ice rink] to the town of Berlin, and that will be at the Berlin Fire Company’s second floor,” President of Berlin Fire and EMS David Fitzgerald said. “We are going to use it for fundraisers.”

The 32 by 52 feet rink can used for parties, fundraisers and other special events. The Berlin Fire Company will have a $5 charge to use the rink on Thursday through Sunday evenings as well as Saturday afternoons.

“We appreciate any support we have from the community to come up and enjoy that rink in March while it’s still cold out,” Fitzgerald said. “Our hall is heated and uses synthetic ice. You can have a nice evening or afternoon.”

Specific dates for the rink’s installation had not been determined at the time of the meeting, but Mayor Gee Williams looks forward to the ice rink’s arrival.

“It’s an opportunity for the town to get some visitors and be here,” Fitzgerald said. “

In November, the Worcester County Commissioners agreed to allow the Recreation and Parks Department to reallocate funds from special event savings to buy the synthetic ice rink. The purchase cost was $69,000, but with donations, the amount was brought down to $49,000, according to Director of Worcester County Recreation, Parks, Tourism and Economic Development Tom Perlozzo.

Perlozzo told Worcester County Commissioners during their Tuesday, Jan. 7 meeting that they were scheduling the ice rink all around the county, with the next stop being in Berlin. Other locations of interest are Pocomoke Middle School and the West Ocean City outlet mall.

Given the size of the rink, approximately 2,800 square feet of indoor open space is required, which could be difficult for towns with limited space like Pocomoke City.

The rink made its debut at the Worcester County Recreation Center in Snow Hill on Dec. 20. Around 600 skaters attended the “Elves on the Loose” event.

The recreation center also held open skate days from Dec. 21-23 and Dec. 26 and 27, with a combined 1,000 skaters coming through for the open skate and Elves on the Loose.