New Britain herald., 1915-01-18
COMMUNICATED.
Hockey at Walnut Hill Park Discussed
 by Superintendent Wainwright.

In Saturday nights Herald I noticed
 that the High school students were
 thinking of organizing hockey team | and arranging a schedule for the rest | of the season. In this movement they
 have in mind using the newly con-
 structed shallow basin at the summit
 of Walnut Hill park; believing that 1 here they would have a good rink, ! and I agree with them save that the
 fountain in the center cuts the surface
 in halves and really spells it for such l usage.
 The point readily comes up whether 1 hockey should be allowed at all, and
 I do not think it ought to be, because
 while many grown people frequently
 go there to enjoy the skating the pond
 has thus far been a chidren's skating
 rink, and it is the children we must l of course, look after. They play
 hockey in a small way, and different
 games and are having a fine time
 right along but we are careful to 1 restrict their games so as not to in 1 terfere with the other skaters. I have received two or three com | plaints about the larger boys being a little rough, and knocking other | skaters down, but In far as we 1 have been able We have tried to pre- vent such occurrences. But it is no
 more than can be expected in any public amusement until people get accustomed to enjoy their own selves while in restricted area with many others
 This basin on the park is not large being some 260 feet long by 160 feet wide. It being right in the heart of the city, all parents, l am sure, are i safe place for their children to skate.
 Since the pond is so limited in size it is the duty of the city l believe
 to give the youngsters preference as rrimarily it was built for them. The older people can come and go freely and I know, like myself, they prefer plenty of ice and are willing to go a little ways to fair sized pond.
 It is unfortunate but it is true in a great many cities that parks where usually the municipal skating IS located are not centrally placed but rather in some district away from the center, so that while a certain section may have skating close by the ma jOrty of people have to cross the city to reach it. This can be explained by stating it is all a question of natural water Some cities have chain of lakes lying about her as Minneapolis, while city like Hartford is extremely fortunate to have Elizabeth park and the small lake within. which is well patron- ized.
 In our new North End park the city has a fine chance to make a municipal ice rink and the park commissioners are now working on plans for d new concrete dam to replace the old earthen structure which washed out last spring. The dam is only a part of a scheme which will afford the city winter recreation of not only skating but I hope eventually tobogganing as well, with a suitable building to serve both sports which would contain a large stove to warm oneself, and a counter where hot coffee and eatables may be procured. Such a recreation spot with lights about for the evening would surely be very desra be. The building itself could be an inexpensive Cne put up in sections so as to be re- moved after the winter season or else it might be utilized in the summer time partly as a tool room, and a little picnic shelter.
 I saw very much this same idea of q skating house carried out in Pros pect park, Brooklyn a short time ago. only on a much larger scale than would be practicable here. There, they have a very large area to skate upon--the lake winding in and out about a very fine landscape. The ska ting house is a temporary structure put in position each winter on the edge of the lakc--a one story affair about 150 feet long and fifty feet wide, with q wide plank incline leading down onto the ice. In the center of the house are two large old fashioned depot stoves about which the skaters get warm-counters are placed along the walls and all kinds of hot drinks and eatables are sold, and at one end of the building is a place to check wearing apparel and a place to rent skates and to purchase straps etc. The building is without doors-just the unprotected openings, fo1 so many people pass in and out continually doors would be useless | was surprised to so many of all classes skating there together, from l small tots to elderly people.
 Although there constantly is d large 1, crowd on the ice the skaters were well l behaved, and I noticed also that there 1, were many park officers about to | handle the people properly and to l keep them from dangerous spots in 1 the ice. I believe they stop all | skating at goo in the evening. Re- gently a carnival was held which 1t 1 was estimated brought out on skates | some 25,O0 people. so it goes to- show what a popular sport this out 1 door winter recreation is.
 If the plans of the park commits 1 siOners are carried Out-ncxt winter l we will have a municipal skating rink | at the new North End park, and this l ho tn