RECREATION BULLETIN SERVICE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL RECREATION ASSOCIATION Formerly named Playground ¢ Recreation Association of America 315 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK “ile Heading: Winter Sports ICH SKATING ARFAS Results of Preliminary Ouestionnaire The National Recreation Association has received so many requests for in- formetion on types, surfaces and methods of creating ice skating rinks thet e question- naire on the subject was sent out recently to a limited number of executives in the stctes of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island. Such a wide diversity of fact and opinion was shown in the replies that few conclusions of distinct value can be formulated on the most satisfactory method or on the conditions under which ice can be made most efficientlye A few facts, however, will be of intereste Where can we oduild an ice skating rink? How big shall it be? The question- naire showed that skating rinks have been made on playgrounds and playfields with sod or. soil surfaces and on tennis courts, concrete, clay and bituminouSse (Most of the data on tennis courts relates to cloy surfacese) An important factor in creating ice skating rinks is the stipulation that the ground to be flooded or sprayed should be level and smooths weeds should be cut close to the ground and all twigs and leaves should be removede The question on the minimum size of a rink drew mony different estimatese Most replies stated that a tennis court comprised sufficient area for a children's rink, but other figures ran as high as a 40,000 square feet minimume Construction An important point brought out is that banks should be constructed around artificial rinks. While clay embankments (from 8 to 36 inches high) were advocated in some instances; the consensus is that planks backed by dirt or clay are beste The boards may vary from 4 to 14 inches in height. It was suggested thet they be sunk at a 45° angle, covered with tar paper, and banked with dirt. One superintendent reported that the board bank may be held upright with 2 x 4 inch stakese Ground and Temperature Conditions Floodinge There should be several inches of frost in the ground before areas are floodede The correct temperature for flooding, as indicated by the questior naires, varies from 15 to 30° (average 26°). The temperature should be 26 end falling, howevere It was suggested that the ground be sprayed first, in order to ‘establish a base of ice, and then floodede : If a hose is used in flooding, it is advised that the hose should not be placed on the ground, as such procedure results in a hole and the water will drain from the rink. Sprayinge A satisfactory temperature for spraying was recorded in answers from 15 ct ee around 20° == and falling). Those questioned on spraying used anything from a g-inch garden hose to a 3-inch fire hose, but the l-inch garden hose, spray nozzle, was generally thought to be the most efficiente It is best to spray at nicht, letting one layer frceze before applying the nexte ‘The answers on READ RECREATION, THE TOOL KiT OF THE COMMUNITY RECREATION WORKER