It doesn’t hurt that he can see the rink from his kitchen window, but let’s face it: the arrival of an outdoor rink in or near Bobby Van Engen’s backyard was always a likely occurrence.
He was accustomed to the sacrifice of setting up the tarp and boards an outdoor rink and nightly flooding when the weather cooperated, and some-times the benefits only lasted a few days in January but it was a bit of a family tradition that get his children outside having fun in the winter. But in addition to providing an outdoor attraction for his family, he could now see a broader audience for the rink in its location beside the Millbrook Chris-tian Assembly (MCA) church building. Because of the park, families associated this location with outdoor fun and com-munity connection in the good weather, so why not install a winter attraction? He and his wife Kathleen are Pastors at this church and were happy to offer this winter attraction to the community on behalf of their church.
Bobby admits that it’s a different kind of pressure when the audience broadens beyond immediate family. He claims he’s never checked his weather app so frequently, but so far this season, the weather has been great, allowing the rink to be operational in early December. In mid December a brief mild spell interrupted the fun, but the rink has been in full swing over the holidays.
With a surface of roughly 60’ by 30’, it can easily handle six to eight skaters who are usually playing shinny. Three sturdy benches have been relocated beside the rink to put on skates, take a break or serve a penalty. It is open from 9 am to 9 pm to respect the neighbours. A green ribbon attached to a sign indicates that the surface is good for skating. A red ribbon tells people to stay off the rink, as soft ice and slush can make it difficult to get a smooth skating surface again. In mild weather, he has learned that the best thing to do is leave the rink alone and let Mother Nature do her thing.
There is no rhythm yet as for peak usage, but Bobby and his three sons are there everyday around 5pm and usually others are available to make an interesting scrimmage. The area is unsupervised, but users are coming with helpful attitudes, clearing snow and sharing the ice with other skaters.
Growing up in Millbrook, Bobby remembers that there wasn’t an outdoor rink available for kids who love hockey but aren’t necessarily into organized sports, like his own sons, to give the sport a try. The rink gives people the opportunity to play a bit free-style and occasionally develop a love for the game. It also gets people outdoors and active during the cold winter months, and creates a space where neighbours can connect.
The church community was excited to back the plan, eager to get families back to the church after the park closed for the season. With only a year under their belts as leaders in this church, Bobby and Kathleen have appreciated the draw of the park which has created a blessing for both the church and the community. The park and the rink have introduced the Van Engens to many wonderful people in the area who are surprised and pleased by the generosity of the church. They see these initiatives as ways to give back and to build relationships. They are simple but meaningful gestures where the church blesses the community.
While creating and maintaining the rink has been a lot of work, thanks to the weather the results have been worth it. Based on his own experience, Bobby believes that every child in Millbrook should have the opportunity to develop at least one great memory on an outdoor rink.