COVID-19 melts any chances of ICE reopening this year
By Kendra Martinez, Staff Writer
Due to COVID-19, ICE, Santa Monica’s ice skating rink will not return this year. After opening ICE every year for over a decade, Downtown Santa Monica decided it would be safer to cancel the re-opening of the skating rink. Under normal circumstances, the corner of 5th street and Arizona Ave. would turn into a winter staple for many families from Nov. to Jan.
The city does own the lot in which ICE takes place, so it’s under their jurisdiction to close it. Downtown Santa Monica has chosen to postpone any planned public events in the foreseeable future. They have also made significant modifications to one of the only events opened: the farmers market. Before, you could sample fresh produce and choose not to buy it. Now, anything you touch you have to automatically buy.
The COVID-19 restrictions in California would make it very difficult to follow social distancing guidelines in a skating rink. The close proximity of the rink would make it difficult to keep people at a safe distance from each other, especially when they are constantly losing their balance and falling into each other. Even if ICE was open during the pandemic, some students say they would still choose not to go.
“It’s sad that it’s closing but it doesn’t feel weird because [COVID-19] is closing everything and even if it was open, I wouldn’t go anyway,” Ellanora LoGreco (’23) said.
Even so, LoGreco still misses the rink as it has been a vital part of her childhood, and growing up, she would normally go at least two to four times per year. LoGreco is not alone—many students would visit ICE multiple times, especially during winter break. Lilianah Barton (’22) said she would visit the rink once or twice every two weeks. With it being closed, Barton will try out other activities during the holidays to take its place.
“I might do some other holiday things, such as making cookies, decorating a tree, giving and receiving gifts, etc,” Barton said.
The skating rink may be closed, but Samo students are still making the best out of this holiday season, winding down and getting ready to relax after a stressful week of finals.
