“We had a great first year.”
During a presentation to city council, Holland parks and recreation director Andy Kenyon said visitors from all over Michigan and the Midwest came to skate in the city’s new Window on the Waterfront park.
“We had people coming from Traverse City, from Detroit, Chicago, from Indianapolis, from all over the Midwest.”
Between opening day November 14th and the end of season last month Kenyon says they sold almost all of the available 90-minute skating sessions. And over 8 thousand cups of hot cocoa.
“And if you didn’t have the hot cocoa there, I suggest you get some next year because it was spectacular.”
City manager Keith Van Beek says ticket sales, concessions and sponsorships will cover park operating expenses.
"We did well. This is something that’s able to pay for itself.”
Windows on the Waterfront has a 700-foot-long ice ribbon, a circular rink and even an ice sheet for curling. The park was proposed by former teacher Frank Kraai who donated a million dollars, his life savings, to get the project started.
"Frank knew what this was going to mean for this community."”
Holland mayor Nathan Bocks.
“It is an absolutely fantastic addition to this community, to the Midwest, to the world.”
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