Elk Grove Hopes To Draw More Business Downtown With First Outdoor Ice Rink

ELK GROVE (CBS13) - A contract dispute almost killed the deal, but the city of Elk Grove will have its first-ever outdoor ice rink.

City leaders hope it will bring a lot of money to downtown businesses just in time for the holiday season.

It may look like a dirt lot, but in a few weeks it will be ice. A 60 by 80-foot ice rink is coming to old town Elk Grove.

"Signed, sealed, delivered yesterday, so the timing couldn't be better," said City council member Gary Davis.

A contract issue was holding up the plan, but not anymore.

"We were committed to making sure this happened," said Davis.

Resident Andrea James can't wait to lace up her skates.

"I used to ice skate a lot when I was younger, and now I get to do it again," James said. "I'm so excited."

It will happen fast; workers hope to have it finished in just a few weeks.

"Old town Elk Grove is one of the area's biggest kept secrets, but not anymore," said Davis.

He predicts the rink will draw thousands to skate in Elk Grove and hopefully spend money in old town.

"Say we have 20,000 people come to skate in old town, and each one spends $5 to $10 outside the rink, thousands can be injected into old town Elk Grove," said Davis.

One of those businesses hoping to benefit is Embellish. Owner Kristi Peck expects sales to spike this season, and it will stay open later to accommodate the crowds.

"It should be a great holiday season for us," said Peck.

So now that the plan is final, the only thing Davis needs to work on is his skating skills.

The rink will officially open on Thanksgiving Day, just in time for the 25th Annual Dickens Street Faire.