Thousands of Lego-like interlocking tiles in bold shades of blue, orange, and red now blanket the pavement at Clinton Square, where Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens cut the ribbon Tuesday on a new pop-up roller skating rink built on the same surface that hosts the city's beloved winter ice rink each year.
The rink, open to both roller skaters and skateboarders, is free and open dawn to dusk through Sunday. It was Owens' personal request to Parks and Recreation Commissioner Syiesha Byrd on the day she took office.
"We use this square for a lot of things. We're a festival town. We love getting out after long winters to enjoy. And from one person who's not an ice skater, and I don't think I'm alone here, this was another opportunity to use this for something I remember fondly. Even though I've been practicing, and I'm still a little shaky," Owens said.
The rink took a few months to plan and one rain-soaked night to build, with parks staff and the city's skilled trades department laying the floor through a downpour the night before the ribbon cutting.
Byrd said the payoff was worth it.
"It brings the old school feel back to our city. What I love the most is the floor. The tiles bring color to Clinton Square," she said.
Admission is free this weekend, with five-dollar skate rentals available Friday and Saturday evenings from 6 to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Additional rental dates will be announced next week.
The rink is built to move. Assembled from portable tiles, it can travel to events and festivals across Syracuse all summer.
"We're bringing fun to downtown," Byrd said.
Clinton Square has a new life this summer. The city says more dates and programming are on the way.
