With help of foundation, city rinks likely to remain open

Three city ice rinks will likely remain open under a new public-private partnership expected to be announced today by Mayor Nutter.

As part of a major cost-cutting plan unveiled two weeks ago, Nutter had said Scanlon Ice Rink in Kensington, Laura Sims Skatehouse at Cobbs Creek Park in West Philadelphia, and the Rink at Simons Recreation and Teen Access Center in West Oak Lane would all close beginning this winter.

At the same time, city officials had also suggested the three rinks could open if private funding was found.

That appears to have happened, under a deal the city has struck with the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation to operate the city's five ice rinks - including the three slated for closure.

As part of the deal, city employees who work at the rinks may be permitted to keep their jobs.

An official announcement is scheduled for 10 a.m. at Simons Recreation and Teen Access Center.

The rinks will open for the season on Friday and remain open through March 1.

"I'm grateful," City Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell said about the partnership.

Noting that Snider in the past has sponsored various programs at the Cobbs Creek facility, she said: "They've been very committed to ice rinks for some time. We are very appreciative of their wanting to pass on his legacy."

Snider is the chairman of Comcast-Spectacor, a division of Comcast Corp.

The hockey foundation, however, is a separate entity. It currently operates programs at the Wissahickon Skating Club, the Class of 1923 Rink at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Polonia Bank Flyers Skate Zone in Northeast Philadelphia, among others.