LHS Senior and local Girl Scout Abigail Bernier helps fill the community ice rink with water

Photo Credit: Harry Brooks

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LEICESTER, Mass. — While the mild winter has been disappointing for residents looking to go ice skating on Leicester's lakes and ponds, thanks to Girl Scout Abigail Bernier and a force of eager community volunteers, local families may still have a chance to safely take to the ice during February Vacation week.

That's because over Super Bowl weekend, Bernier, Leicester Parks and Recreation and other residents were tirelessly working to build a community ice skating rink at Leicester Middle School — and now all they need is a good freeze to help get the fun started. 

A longtime Girl Scout and senior at Leicester High School, Bernier had been looking to do a project for her Girl Scout Gold Award, which is the equivalent of the Eagle Scout award and is the highest honor in the organization. 

"The idea came about because of people falling through the ice in town, so I was thinking why not make a rink that we can use year to year, that's safe for kids to use, and make it kind of like a tradition in the town," said Bernier.

Knowing she had only a limited amount of time before Spring made the project impossible, Bernier got the ball rolling quickly, and brought her proposal to Leicester Parks and Recreation.

"Nothing like this has ever been done, so I thought it would be a good thing to be brought forth," she said.

Parks and Rec approved of the effort, and with their support, Bernier then mobilized the troops to help make the idea come to fruition.

First, she was able to get Home Depot in Auburn to donate the majority of the materials, which includes items like lumber for the rink walls and a large plastic liner to contain the water.

Then members of Leicester Parks and Recreation, her family, and other neighbors pitched in over the weekend to help build the rink itself.

 "A lot of it was volunteer work," said Bernier. "I didn't know some of these people until they came out to help me, so it made also me more aware of how great the people around us are, and how willing they are to help."

"It was pretty cool," added Bernier, who said that along the way she was able to further develop her leadership skills.

"I had to take charge and tell people what I needed help with," she explained.

The 36 by 70 foot rink will only be used on the weekends during daylight hours as well as during school vacation week, and will be locked at other times.

Bernier hopes the weather will play along, and that the rink will be ready for skates by February vacation.

When the ice does form, the plan is to hold a grand-opening event for residents to come out and enjoy their new community rink.

This is, of course, all weather permitting.

"We did start it late, but there are no ponds that are ready, and if they start going on ponds during school vacation week they could drown. So this is not deep and they're not going to get hurt," said Harry Brooks, the new Recreational Liaison to Parks and Recreation.

Furthermore, as most of the materials can be re-used, now the ice rink can become a community tradition that will be carried over into next winter, explained Brooks.

In order to maintain the ice, Parks and Rec will be building a "hand-zoni," a makeshift device that will help them keep the ice smooth and glassy throughout the season.

"It's something for the kids to do over the winter," said Brooks.

In the meantime, Brooks is collecting ice skates for residents to be able to use at the rink. Residents can either drop their ice skates off at Leicester Primary School or send an email to Harry Brooks at harrybrook@aol.com.