By Taylor J. Hale 

Staff Writer

 STEVENS POINT – Sharpen your skates for the opening of the downtown ice rink, as Stevens Point hosts the official opening of the new venue.

Sunset Point Winery Manager Kathy Johnson came up with the idea for the ice rink earlier this year and approached city leaders with the concept.

“I thought it would be an awesome idea to have a rink on the square,” Johnson said. “The square goes unutilized all winter. Kids play in the fountain all summer long, so why shouldn’t we utilize it in the winter months.”

City leaders approved the rink last month, and crews laid the first layer of ice on Dec. 14. The Stevens Point Alliance (SPA) helped fund the rink’s liner and sidings.

Johnson sees the ice rink as a way to bring festivity to the city.

“With the Christmas tree right there, I don’t want to call it a ‘Hallmark moment’ or ‘Rockerfeller moment,’ but that’s what I want to create,” Johnson explained. “I want the residents here to have that.”

 The city is hosting a grand opening event for the downtown ice rink on Dec. 18 at 5:30 p.m., in the square on Main Street.