The Ice Arena was originally built because several influential members of a curling club (including some Janesville bankers) didn't like playing out in the open weather at Traxler Park (perhaps snowflakes kept dropping into their mixed drinks). It's run at a financial loss most years and serves far fewer people for the excessive tax dollars spent on it than other recreational facilities provided by the city.
.
The money spent on the Ice Arena over the years would have kept up Riverside Park with enough change left over to have renovated the warming house at Traxler Park. I wouldn't object to the Ice Arena if the private sector had funded construction and operations. The Ice Arena should increase its fees to the point of being self-supporting, or it should be sold or shut down, rather than subsidized.
.
I wouldn't object to a children's museum either, if the private sector would fund it. I don't like the city wastefully spending money to "keep up with the Joneses". We will have enough problems keeping up services and facilities in Janesville that have a much wider base of users, with the decline of employment and the tax base the city will face with GM and other businesses closing.

As a volunteer at Traxler I wish it could be open more and have more ice too, but the fact is that it took The Friends of Traxler a year or two to even get approval from the city to open the place. FOT works hard to keep it clean, stocked with treats, and enjoyable for teens as well as families. We have had many people stop down and skate for a little while just for "old times sake". Just a note: monetary donations are always welcome so that more skates and treats can be purchased and available for use/sale to our "customers".

It is not a "help yourself" situation there, volunteers will give you a pair of skates as well as clean and dry them when they are returned.

By the way -- whom ever walked off with a pair of size 11 skates last week -- please return them as we have many more people that could put them to use.

I don't know why people are complaining. It seems reasonable to shut down the ice rink when temperatures are this cold. Thursday, the temperatures might be so low that schools are mandated to shut down. We all know that kids can do stupid things, and I don't want them, staying out in the cold because they're trying to impress this or that person.

anesvillecomments-Ya, why are you so against the ice arena? The only thing people should be disappointed about is the fact that Janesville has such a difficult time supporting a sport for kids and the facilities to do so.

janesvillecomments, if you think the Ice arena is such a waste, maybe you should stop by some night and see the amount of people! Just a couple of weekends ago, people had to be turned away because they ran out of skates! God forbid we have SOMETHING in this town for kids to do!

thank you....i do remember that too i wish we had the hockey area it would make things better for all the skaters but everyone seems to be able to make it work this way for now.Maybe in the future it could be like that but who knows i guess some is better than none.I just want to thank everyone who has donated skates and their time to help everyone run it!!!

stacey-I'm not saying I could run it better and I applaud you for being involved with getting it back to where it was. I just remember the entire main area was all ice which is now half ice and there was a separate hockey box area which was great because you didn't get in the way of people just skating if you wanted to play hockey. It was upsetting to me for many years that the city could not keep this running when it's such a great past time. Especially the city of parks. What was more upsetting to me was when they had mud volleyball one year in the hockey box which destroyed the box and the following year it was removed.

spark- it is run pretty close to the same .....just not the lagoon it was open a couple years ago but the problem is getting it plowed!!You can get skates for free and sit by a cozy fire and drink hot chocolate it is a great family thing to do that does not cost alot of money as far as your comment "the way it is run today "....we are all giving our time to make it happen so i would like to know if you think you can do it betteri would like to see it!!!!Most of the people who are coming down to skate are very happy we are there and open they remember it from their childhoods and are now bringing their children!!!

Oh...and please note, I'm not making a big deal that they closed it because of the temps. I'm just comparing the operation to how it used to be and it was awesome how it was run years ago.

Yep, when we were younger, we lived down there. You could skate on the lagoon, the complete area which they only have half of now, was solid ice and there was the hockey box. Three different locations to skate, play hockey on. The warming house was open and warm and it was great. It's really sad how it's operated now. We live in Wisconsin and can't even keep a skate rink open. Too bad.

Thanks to Janesville for opening the ice rink at Traxler. It was many years ago that my brothers and I would go down and skate around the rink. Unfortunately it always reminded me of falling and banging the back of your head on the ice so hard it would knock the snot out of you.

Tater... yes they have skates it is all free they have no fees you can just show up and get skates! you can buy popcorn,hot chocolate,candy,water.It is really fun we always have a great fire and it is nice to just sit and talk to other people.HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!the hours are 4-9 m-f 12-9 sat 12-8 sun

I was disappointed... I thought they meant the Ice Arena had been shut down.

I didn't even know that they had skating at Traxler! Where can I find info on it? I just did a Gazette search and couldn't find any articles or info. Do they rent skates? How much? Anyone know?

I say let all the tough guys go out and skate and when there ears fall off because of frostbite we can comment on that story.

Anyone that is bummed about not being able to skate in sub zero weather can shovel my driveway for me.

It has nothing to do with our health and safety. Ice becomes brittle and cracks when it gets below zero degrees. This probably isn't a concern for ice fishing, but as hockey ice is only about 3 inches thick it can really screw up an outdoor ice rink.

staceyt: Your exactly right, and thank you, and your family and all who help out. I remember when I was a kid my friends and I skated there all the time we loved it!! The city thought kids didn't need the ice rink and let it go, what a shame.
God bless the volunteers!

It is not safe to be out in those temps!!!YES it is all staffed by volunteers....like my family!it is a great chance to get back to the way things used to be...but even better now,There is no charge to skate and a nice wood buring fire and food and drinks for a a very small charge!!if you think you can do better i would like to see you try!!!Thanks "Friends of Traxler" for bring back a piece of my childhood!!!

Some people aren't happy unless they're complaining. I bet some of the people are down right ecstatic!

What is up with you people... It's going to be -25 to -35 below wind chill.... Why do you have to complain about every little thing. Can't you just except the fact that they don't want people out in this weather. You're not to be out in this type of weather, it's too dangerous !!! If you are one that wants to go skating. GO !!!! The warming house wont' be open!!!!

I believe they are just looking out for the saftey of the skaters. I mean common sense would tell you that if it is 20 to 30 BELOW zero out that you shouldn't be skating. But unfortunatly most people don't seem to have common sense anymore and some moron would be out there, get frost bite (or worse die)and then try to sue the city because it the skating rink was open in such subzero temps.

Too cold to skate... Good grief. People of Janesville; YOU are the boss, not the city government. Collectively TELL them what will be available for use and what will not. YOUR -employees- have the tail wagging the dog. Sit there and be wagged or give the "powers" that be a reality check.

Last I knew, it was staffed by volunteers. Since it isn't costing the city for staffing, I say let that group decide when it is too cold for them to be there.

I think the Leisure Services Advisory committee needs to review the operations of this facility. Between being too warm and now being too cold, the existing "window" of operations sure seems to be very small. Come on! This is weather in Wisconsin! People have been skating at Traxler for years but it's hard to keep yourselves or your kids excited about it when it's rarely open. Either make it available or let it go.

Uhhhh Whats up with that? To cold to ice skate? Ok if you guys say so........ Ice must be to frozen or something......

You know it's cold when it's too cold for ice!