Waterloo hosting public roller skating

WATERLOO — Lace up roller skates and go back in time at Moses Springer Arena this summer.

The City of Waterloo is hosting public skates with free quad-roller skate rental included with admission. The first session was Thursday.

“We just want people to come out and have a great time,” said Nancy Hall-Jupp, the city’s supervisor of leisure and active living programs.

Vintage roller skates were delivered earlier this week, bought up by a man from rollerskating venues as they closed.

“We’re ready to roll,” HallJupp said.

Adult roller skating will be on Thursdays from 9 to 10:30 a.m.; parent and child skating on Thursdays from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.; and public skating on Fridays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m.

Hall-Jupp hopes people who went roller skating as teens will bring their children or grandchildren. And no worry if you’re rusty on the roller skates.

“The boards are still on, so you can hold on to the boards until you get your feet,” HallJupp said.

Staff will monitor the skate “just to be sure everyone is safe and enjoying their time,” she said.

The surface is a click flooring used by in-line skaters that rent Moses Springer. If the leisure skaters don’t like that surface, the city will consider moving the skating to another arena after this inaugural season.

Skates of all sizes will be available, from children’s 9 to men’s 13. People can bring their own skates if they have them.

This will be the only public roller skating program in the area, other than at the Wilmot Recreation Complex.

The city is planning special nights with a DJ and lighting on July 9 and 14 and Aug. 6 and 11 to “make it more of that roller disco feel,” Hall-Jupp said.

Admission is the same as for skating: $4.50 for children and $6 for adults.

The Moses Springer Arena is at 150 Lincoln Rd. Find out more at waterloo.ca/skate.