Living in the OC: Shelby offers free ice skating rink.

Shelby Village DPW Supervisor Greg MacIntosh stands in front the new ice rink at Getty Park.

Living in the OC: Shelby offers free ice skating rink.

#OceanaCounty #Shelby

By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.

‘Living in the OC’ is sponsored by Springstead Law Offices, with locations in Hart and Fremont, 231-873-4022 (Hart), www.springsteadlaw.com.

SHELBY — If you’re looking for a fun way to get some outdoor exercise during the winter months, then look no further than the village’s Getty Park where an ice skating rink was recently created.

Village DPW Supervisor Greg MacIntosh had the idea to “reintroduce” the ice rink that existed in that location decades ago. After coming on board as the DPW supervisor a year ago, MacIntosh asked village officials for the go-ahead to create the rink, and they agreed.

He and DPW workers Kirk Seabolt and JoshVanderputte created the 75-by-150 foot rink on the park’s basketball courts by using the nearby fire hydrant and hose. The colder-than-normal temperatures this December were ideal for creating the ice. They repaired the curb around the courts to keep the water contained as it froze, he said. The DPW workers also fixed the Getty Park sign and front fence and cleared out a rock garden, making the park look much more inviting. The crew will continue to maintain the rink by keeping snow plowed off the ice and re-watering it when needed.

The rink is free for anyone to use. You just need to bring your own skates, which you can put on while sitting at the park’s picnic tables.

MacIntosh, who grew up in the Sterling Heights area, said he spent much of his childhood summers in West Michigan. He said he is happy that he and his family now live in Oceana County. “I love it here,” he said. The hockey enthusiast said he plans to bring his kids to the rink often.

There are no set hours for using the rink, he said, so skaters are welcome to use it any time. It will remain open as long as the weather permits. No additional village funds were needed to create the rink, he said.

The park is located across the street from the high school soccer field at the corner of Sixth and School streets.