A newly opened ice rink in Auburn
Hills is offering a cold-weather activity to skaters while warming up
nearby businesses in the city's developing downtown.
The rink, located at the corner of Auburn and Squirrel roads, was funded
by TIFA, a Tax Increment Financing Authority that also relocated an
historic log cabin adjacent to the rink, which faces the area's busy
frontage.
The natural rink, not a refrigerated type, and the cabin are the
centerpiece of a downtown district that's in the works in this Oakland
County community of about 20,000 residents.
"We've been working on growing the downtown," says Stephanie Carroll, a
spokesperson for the city. "We've been putting our heads
together...We've moved our events down there. We've had our concerts and
other summer activities there already. We kind of thought 'what can we
do in the winter?' We thought the addition of an ice rink downtown
would be a great way to get families out to enjoy wintertime activities
and also to complement our businesses that are there."
Skaters can grab a hot chocolate or coffee at Nana's Gourmet, stop for a
bite to eat or a drink at sports bars such as Stan's Dugout and Duffy's
Pub, pick up a sandwich at the newly arrived Subway sandwich shop, or
spend more time outdoors on nearby trails.
A barber shop and knitting shop operate out of the log cabin.
"We're hoping to create more there in the future," Carroll says. "And
as we continue to develop the downtown we will definitely create more
things for people to do."
Source: Stephanie Carroll, coordinator of community relations and legislative affairs, city of Auburn Hills
Writer: Kim North Shine
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