Tinley Park Roller Rink Reopens Under Phase 4

TINLEY PARK, IL — The Tinley Park Roller Rink, a staple on Oak Park Avenue for 55 years, will be one of the places returning as the area reaches Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan on Friday, June 26. Owner Carey Westberg-Quitter said although the rink would be eligible to open at half capacity, Friday night's first post-coronavirus shutdown open skate will only be at 25 percent of their normal capacity.

"We are going to start slow, and as we move into another phase we could pick up capacity," Westberg-Quitter said. "We want all our patrons to be safe."

Masks must be worn by all inside the building while not on the skating floor and hand sanitizer will be available, he said.

The open skate from 8-11 p.m. on Friday will be the first time the rink has been used since March 15. The three-month period is the only time it has ever been closed other than holidays since it became a roller rink in 1965, Westberg-Quitter said.

"We've seen disco, break-dancing... every phase of the industry," he said. "It's still good entertainment."

Open skates will return from 8-11 p.m. Fridays, noon-3 p.m. and 8-11 p.m. Saturdays and noon-3 p.m. Sundays. Wednesday open skates are from noon-3 p.m. and the rink is open at all other times for private parties.

Owners have said the capacity at the rink is 300, so a 75-person limit is expected at first. There won't be a limit to the number of skaters on the floor, Westberg-Quitter said. Skating is allowed in one direction only and the exit and entrance to the rink are at different spots.

During the shutdown, Westberg-Quitter said he used the rink as his personal gym and home office.

"I was here every day working out," he said.

But now it returns to what it was built for.

"Ten out of ten," Westberg-Quitter said on his excitement level. "We've never seen anything like this (the coronavirus pandemic) and hope we never do. We want to see the numbers stay down and move into Phase 5, but just have to take it one day at a time."