[Motif sent local figure skater Charlotte O’Gorman to talk to Warwick Mayor Frank J. Picozzi and discuss the city’s new outdoor ice rink.]
By Charlotte O’Gorman
Coming soon this Winter, you better stay in town and grab your ice skates, because there’s a brand new ice rink arriving right behind the Warwick City Hall in the Apponaug section of the city. Perfectly fit for public skating, this rink has a huge pavilion overtop, keeping the ice clean and preserving warmth inside the walls.
You may be wondering: Why does Warwick need another ice rink? Well, we interviewed Mayor Picozzi and asked him some questions about the new rink. He plans to turn Apponaug into “Downtown Warwick.” He said, “We have city hall, we have the police department, fire headquarters, and we have the annex building. Everything’s here. I mean, all the ingredients are there. It’s just you need something to bring people down here.” The City of Warwick really just needed an attraction to gravitate people to downtown. Also located in the area are a library branch, a local art museum, a playground, and a baseball field.
The goal is for the rink to bring back nostalgic feelings, such as skating on frozen-over ponds or other classic snowy-day memories. It’s not just going to be another rink, it’s going to be a space that brings communities together and makes many shared memories for years and years to come. We are building a legacy. Mayor Picozzi said the rink is “boutique-sized” — too small for hockey or competitions, but just right for families and friends, or for going on a first date.
Even if you don’t want to skate, you can visit the rink to come along and watch the community thrive. The mayor doesn’t skate, for example, but does look forward to some quality people watching as Warwick neighbors glide past. Along with the ice, there will also be other attractions, firepits, and outdoor heaters to help you warm up on the colder evenings.
This rink is not just bringing icetime, with it there will also be off-season activities. There will be rollerskating, pickleball, and farmer markets during the summer, making it a year-round event center.
The extra special part about this rink that makes it different from the Thayer Arena and the Providence rink is its overhead pavilion. The huge canopy is there to keep inclement weather away from the ice. This makes the ice very clean and free of rain, snow, and leaves that could be detrimental to the ice or skate blades in the colder weather. The pavilion will also help to prevent the sun from melting the ice.
We are hoping to see the rink be popping for years and years, all we need is YOU to come and enjoy!
The Ice-Skating Rink at Greenwood Credit Union City Hall Plaza, Warwick, is scheduled to open late November or early December 2025. More information can be found at Warwick RI Parks Department ~ warwickri.gov/parks-and-recreation.
Warwick’s Annual Strolling Rolling Apponaug Winter Festival will be 9am – 3pm, Sat, Dec 6.
Where do u park?
There is parking immediately adjacent and overflow at the sawtooth building.