Reading Shuts Down Sturges Park Ice Rinks After Suspected Vandalism

READING, MA — The three Sturges Park skating rinks have been closed temporarily after vandals littered the rink with debris, which then became frozen in the ice, according to Town of Reading officials.

The Reading Police Department has been made aware of the incident, officials said.

According to officials, the Reading Department of Public Works (DPW) will be forced to drain the rinks in order to safely clean the area. All the rinks must be drained because they are dependent on the same drain, officials said.

No timetable has been given for when the rinks will be operational again.

According to Reading officials, this past weekend, the Town received reports through SeeClickFix about alleged acts of vandalism at Sturges Park. Most of the damage took place to the rink closest to Pine Ridge Road, officials said.

Officials said they inspected the area and discovered branches, rocks, a trash bin, dog refuse bags and plastic bottles had been thrown onto the rink.

With temperatures fluctuating above and below freezing, the ice melted and re-froze, trapping these items in the ice.

"These objects became embedded in the ice, making it unsafe to skate and unsafe for our crews to chip away at this stuff," Jayne Wellman, Reading's business administrator and public information officer, told Patch. "So, we'll hope for a warm day and that the ice melts out. Then, we'll drain, and when it's safe we'll take out the debris and then refill (the rinks)."

Reading officials are asking anybody with information about who may have committed the alleged acts of vandalism to contact the Reading PD's non-emergency line at 781-944-1212. Residents who live near the park also are encouraged to check their doorbell camera footage to see if it captured the suspect or suspects.

Wellman said this is the first time she can remember local outdoor ice rinks being vandalized, and she said the public has expressed frustration about the incident.

"Generally, the public is great about using all the assets in the winter," Wellman said. "I would say there are some spoiled sports, one or more, who caused this problem. But in general, people are very supportive of the work we do on our recreational facilities. Based on the comments I've seen on Facebook, people are really disappointed."