With the Callahan Ice Rink facing that time of year where the
ice will melt and the boards will go up, Chip Comilla, city Parks
and Recreation Department manager, can look back on the 2006-07
year as a success.

“It’s a true team effort up there. I have a number of high
school kids working for me that go above and beyond the job
description; they are always coming up with new ideas and putting
in a lot of effort,” said Comilla, completing his fifth year on
watch for the rink.

All of the hard work has contributed to the fact that time on
the ice is a pastime that continues to grow in popularity in the
area.

“In my first year, we more than doubled in revenue and in my
second year we almost tripled the year before. I don’t have exact
numbers yet, but I know that we have had over 8,000 people in
attendance this season. We are doing really well,” stated
Comilla.

The Callahan Ice Rink has felt the skates of enthusiasts from
Buffalo, N.Y., Rochester, N.Y., Olean, N.Y., Kane, Port Allegany
and many other surrounding towns thanks to word of mouth and some
slick ice that has skaters impressed.

“I guess our biggest marketing tool is our ice. We try to
maintain it for everybody who is using it by making a real smooth
finish. Of course after three hours of skating there are some ruts
and nicks, but by the next morning or afternoon we have a fresh
sheet of us again,” explained Comilla.

The success of the rink over the past few years can be
attributed to the manpower that allows the skates to glide smoothly
along with renovations that the rink has undergone.

In 2002, the rink was fully enclosed, and soon following new
boards replaced the wire mesh fencing thanks to grant money. The
boards, along with the glass that flanks the rink, are both
approved by the NHL, according to Comilla.

“The Olean Hockey League has been looking to get more ice time
by bringing people over to our rink. They rent time to skate in the
Olean rink and do the same here.”

“There are a lot of kids from Bradford, Smethport, Kane and Port
Allegany that play in the junior hockey league, and we also hold
adult hockey league,” said Comilla.

The rink is open every day, with each day offering a different
crowd.

“On Sunday afternoon, we get a lot of families; it’s more of a
relaxed atmosphere. Friday and Saturday nights though – look out!
We get a ton of kids up there, and while they are well behaved, it
tends to get a little crowded.”

For parents, there are numerous reasons to encourage their kids
to head down to the rink on a weekend night. If kids have their own
skates, they need only bring two dollars to enjoy three hours on
the ice.

“A lot of the bigger rinks charge five to seven dollars for one
hour of ice time, so what we offer is really affordable,” explained
Comilla.

As far as safety and security goes, Comilla revealed that there
have been no major problems in his five years in charge.

“We have guards constantly monitoring what is happening on the
ice. Whether they are out there skating themselves, or watching
through the glass that lines the rink, they are very good at
keeping things under control.”

Not to mention the Bradford City Police visit the rink on busy
Friday and Saturday nights to chat with the kids and monitor the
situation.

“The police do a really good job of letting their presence be
known while also being friendly with the kids. We’ve had nights
where there are 200-250 kids there, so they do a walk-through and
talk with the kids, and are also there when the rink lets out just
to make sure that everything is safe in the parking lot,” said
Comilla.

And if the kids get tired of skating?

“We have a concession area that we’ve actually outgrown, but it
offers a nice array of video games and food for the kids to enjoy
if they get tired of being on the ice,” Comilla explained.

As for the off-season, the rink undergoes whatever modifications
the recreation portion of the budget will allow for.

“There are a lot of things that I would like to do, but
sometimes money gets eaten up by vandalism that we have to clean
up. Along with that, there are five other parks to maintain, so if
I have money to do things I will do it, but at the end of the day
there is a lot to take care of,” said Comilla.

“I do appreciate all of the local vendors that have donated
materials and money to the ice rink for things like new shelving in
the locker room, stick racks for the hockey players and so on.”

The ice rink does not go empty during the spring, summer and
fall months.

“We open the rink for family and class reunions, company picnics
and wedding receptions. I have actually seen some awesome wedding
receptions in the rink,” stated Comilla.

“We rent it out pretty cheap and give planners the keys at the
beginning of the week so they have a long time to set up. There has
been receptions with 350 people in there, and there is plenty of
room for people to move.”

With all of the dancing in the summer and skating in the winter
that goes on at the building in Callahan Park, Comilla knows that
without his quality team of workers, things would not run quite as
smoothly.

“Trying to keep a neat, clean and safe facility along with our
customer service and our ice quality is what is going to keep
people coming. It’s a big job, but we enjoy it and we work hard at
it.”