LIVONIA (WXYZ) — When the sun goes down, the lights turn on and this homemade hockey rink is where the budding stars of Livonia come to play.
“It’s really fun to come out here, with my friends,” Jacob Warner said.
“It’s pretty cool, kids ask me everyday if they can come skate and it’s actually funny because I’m like, the favorite kid in school that is the ice rink,” Dylan Antrobius added.
I've died and gone to hockey heaven.
— Justin Rose (@JRoseWXYZ) January 27, 2021
For 8 years, a family in Livonia has taken the idea of a backyard rink and elevated it to a community hot spot.
I think we need to get @Buccigross and the @DetroitRedWings out here for a little 3-on-3#OutdoorRink #ODR #Hockey #PureMichigan pic.twitter.com/j3p4VoMZTq
This backyard frozen paradise has grown from a simple vision, to one filled with more creative amenities than any indoor rink.
A warming zone for neighborhood parents to enjoy, a free skate rental complied of hand me downs from a simpler time, a full concession stand in the basement and a score board straight from an As-Seen-On-TV store.
It’s always been the hot spot on a cold night, and a symbol of unity for this community.
“That’s why I do it, it’s so fun to have the kids out here having a great time, making great memories,” rink owner Lance Antrobius said.
“It’s like more fun than actual renting ice because you pay money to rent ice, this? You just skate,” Dylan added.
This rink started out eight years ago and it is vastly different than it was then but at the same time the uniting of this community and neighborhood is what it’s all about.
“We’ve had a great response, it’s amazing all the people every year that we put this up. We start getting people asking when the rink is going up, is the ice ready, getting the calls, texts, social media and we have all the kids out, the adults out and we all have a great time. It’s so fun,” Antrobius said.
