From
Saturday, February 23, 2013 1:00 pm
until
Saturday, February 23, 2013 4:00 pm
On Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, the McKinley Park neighborhood is set to enjoy its second
“Skate and Greet,” a free afternoon event designed to bring neighbors together and support a new playground for McKinley Park. Spearheaded by the McKinley Park Advisory Council, Skate and Greet will include ice skating, concessions and musical entertainment from local DJs. It takes place between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at McKinley Park's ice skating rink, just east of South Western Boulevard, between Archer and and Pershing avenues.
“Skate and Greet is a way for us to help raise the visibility of our efforts to raise funds for a new park playground,” said Heather Breems, President of the McKinley Park Advisory Council. “It's also a great chance for neighbors to meet each other and get involved in a fun local activity.”
In addition to open ice skating at the skating rink,the Council will offer a variety of baked goods, hot chocolate and other concession treats, with all proceeds going to support the funding of a new playground in McKinley Park. “We need to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to match Park District playground funding requirements,” Breems said. “This is our first public event to start working toward that goal.”
In addition to concession goods from the community, local businesses are also pitching in to help out, including the nearby Costco store and the neighborhood Lindy's and Huck Finn restaurants. Their contributions will go toward concessions and supporting the event, Breems said. Surprise local DJs will tap into the rink's PA system to play fun music to keep the skaters circling the rink.
Admission is free; ice skates are available to rent at the rink for $6.00. “We hope everyone comes out to enjoy an afternoon of skating and fun,” Breems said. “If you're looking for a chance to meet some of your fellow neighbors while supporting a worthy cause, this is it!”
Parking for Skate and Greet is available in the McKinley Park Field House parking lot, on Pershing east of Western, as well as on 37th Street on the north edge of the park, and on Pershing on the park's southern edge.
Also note that the McKinley Park Advisory Council will be offering its "I (heart) McKinley Park" T-shirts during the Skate and Greet event, the first availability of these custom shirts that show your support for the neighborhood.
The McKinley Park Advisory Council (MPAC) is the official supporting citizens' arm of McKinley Park for the Chicago Park District. More information about the Council, including upcoming meetings and activities, is available on the McKinley Park neighborhood Web site at http://mckinleypark.org/mpac.