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The Holland community will soon be home to a welcoming and unique looped ice-skating rink at the Window on the Waterfront (WOW) Park. The new rink will feature a ribbon design with a circle “pond” rink that creates a fun and unique user experience, bringing people to downtown Holland. The rink will be made of real ice during the winter months and will have multi-year use that appeals to all park users. In peak winter season, ice skating, curling, outdoor fireplaces and gathering spaces can be enjoyed at the rink. In the warmer months, a small amphitheater hill will be created for performance space with outdoor seating and amenities. Concessions, bathrooms, storage buildings and canopies will complete the outdoor rink space.
In planning for more than 25 years, the ice rink project is finally coming to life thanks in part to a community member donation and a state-level grant. Situated on a previous refuse site, the soil conditions presented several challenges to the team, but has been stabilized for the new recreational use. The completed rink will act as another steppingstone that connects community spaces from the downtown area to the lakeshore waterfront.
The final design was influenced by input from the community during an open design workshop, as well as stakeholder tours from other prominent ribbon-style rinks in major cities. The WOW Park also features plenty of amenities including riverfront access, athletic fields, a boardwalk, the Sally Smoly Nature Playscape and more.