Skatium Doors to Close for Really Hot Renovations

Given this winter and its accompanying snowiest February in the area's history, it is unlikely too many people will miss having a chance to ice skate this summer. However, for those wanting to work on their axles, it will be a little bit of a challenge in Skokie.

From April to Labor Day, the Skatium Ice Arena in Skokie is scheduled to be closed as the facility, which originally opened in the 1970s, will undergo a $5 million face-lift.  This comes on the heels of a 2005 upgrade to the main indoor rink. 

The Skokie Park District crossed some of the final intragovernmental hurdles at the Feb. 22 village board meeting when it received a needed zoning change from trustees.

“What we are doing is renovating the 1972 portion of the building, including the common areas, the bathrooms, the lobby, concessions and party rooms,” said Mark Schneiderman, director of Park District, which owns and operates the Skatium.

Among the more noted improvements are  the addition of women’s locker rooms on north side of the building.  Other changes include:

• A new café and skating rental area
• Two new party rooms
• A new customer service area for duffers at the Weber Park Golf Course

 At the Feb. 22 meeting, trustees accepted the recommendation of the Plan Commission to change in the zoning variance of an adjoining nearly 1,000- foot triangular property next to the Skatium.  The Park District will use that property behind the Weber Park Golf Course to create 30 parking spaces. 

The additional parking slots will be used by employees  so patrons can use the ones at the main facility.  For Saturdays when the Skatium has a high volume of visitors, the Park District still continue its agreements with the Piser Funeral Home and the Mayer Kaplan JCC to use their parking lots.

 However, that is just one part of an overall face-lift to the Skatium, which has 250,000 visitors annually.  According to Park District officials, the changes are necessary for many reasons, including making the building complaint with the American with Disability Act and more energy efficient.

The project comes with a $5 million price tag, which will be financed through a bond issue and the selling capital bonds.  Also, there are ongoing attempts to acquire some state grants from the Illinois government.

Even in this time of austerity and threatened budget cuts coming from the state legislature, Park District President Mike Reid defends the project.

 “This is something that has been on the minds of the Park District for a long time,” Reid said.  “For the amount of business we have there, this is something that is sorely needed.”

While there will not be any programs inside the Skatium in this summer, the golf course will remain open.

Overall, the Park District has jurisdiction over 49 pieces of property with more than 40 parks in the village.