Story Update: DeKalb County Health Director Sandra Ford has recommended against the city hosting an ice skating event for December 2020 due to the state’s increasing number of COVID-19 cases, City Parks Director Brandon Riley said on Nov. 30, 2020.
STONECREST— Brandon Riley, the city’s Parks and Recreation Director, said he would likely nix the idea of bringing an ice skating rink to the city for a two-day event in December.
Riley said his department was looking at bringing Artificial Ice Events and its giant Snowman on Dec. 11-12 to the parking lot of the future Stonecrest City Hall, (the former Sam’s Club at 2994 Turner Hill Road). After receiving a lukewarm reaction from the City Council at its meeting last night, however, Riley said he would probably look at the idea for next year.
“They had a lot of concerns and they just didn’t seem comfortable with the idea. We wanted to do something fun, but we don’t want to be a super spreader of COVID-19,” said Riley.
The City Council was not slated to vote on the proposal–only to hear a presentation from Riley. After the presentation, council members asked questions regarding costs, liability and protection for the public’s health, ending their comments by saying they would like to hear what DeKalb County health officials’ thoughts were before moving forward.
Riley said he had not yet heard back from Dr. Sandra Ford, DeKalb County’s health director, but timing is critical if the event is to be held in December. The City Council, Riley said, would have to give approval quickly in order to book the event.
During last night’s presentation, Riley said the rink would operate 8 hours both days and only permit 20 people at one time to skate for one hour to follow social distancing protocols. Under that scenario, only 320 guests could attend. Riley said that tickets would be sold on EventBrite.com to restrict attendance.
Face masks would be required and the rink and equipment would be sanitized after each use, Riley said.
“Dec. 11 is right around the corner and we don’t have a lot of time, so it might be best to wait until next year. I would still like to hear from DeKalb’s health director, though, to weigh in,” Riley told On Common Ground News.
2 Comments
What a bummer.Corona certainly has messed up everybody’s plans.
The ice skating rink would have been a great asset for Stonecrest as people would have to travel to places Alpharetta, Conyers or Downtown to go to one. Before the pandemic,I would have to see my nieces/ nephews skate.
I definitely get why Mr.Riley did what he did.As long as Corona is out there, I dont think that I would have went..let alone my kids going. Normally,I look at decorated homes during this time and with one house in particular, I love seeing and the owner let visitors come closer to see her decorations. With this pandemic, Im not even sure if she’ll do it for 2020 ,but if she does,I’ll just look ,stay in my car and go leave or just stay home as I dont get out as much as I used to.It wouldn’t be right for her to be exposed to those small crowds like that and I wouldnt want that exposure as the rate for the virus is going up.
Hopefully next year, if the pandemic dies down,the ice skating rink will be considered and opened.It would be something different and fun for the city.
Of all the things Stonecrest needs a Ice Skating rink is not among them. This proposal would have provided limited jobs and limited availability for people to use it – 20 people for one hour for a total of 320 people. BTW how many ice skaters are there within a 5 mile area of Stonecrest.