In 1963, the residents of Mentor Village and Mentor Township voted to create the City of Mentor.
The first two decades of the City’s existence was a busy time with a tremendous amount of growth and activity taking place. City Council and Administration worked hard to develop infrastructure and encourage economic investment, while also paying heed to quality-of-life amenities like parks and recreation facilities which would make Mentor an attractive place to live.
In fact, from 1976 to 1982, the City purchased what would become Garfield Park, Wildwood Cultural Center, the first Senior Center building, and began construction on our city center – the Civic Center complex which consists of the Mentor Municipal Center, Police Department, Fire Station 5, Municipal Court, and Civic Center Park. Civic Center opened, and the tennis courts, ballfields, and Mentor Civic Arena soon followed.
Just two of the original seven Councilpersons remain from that influential group – James Struna and Lynne Mazeika. In a recent interview both reminisced about the construction of the Civic Center complex and count it among their proudest achievements. According to Mazeika, there was doubt about the feasibility of the Ice Arena due to cost and whether the facility would generate enough revenue to support the operation. But, after much discussion the decision to build the facility narrowly passed and it was unveiled to the public during the It’s Better in Mentor festival in September, 1982.
“I’m very proud. There was a tie vote on the Ice Arena, and I broke the tie to have us build that…it’s been a tremendous asset,” Mazeika recalled.
The late Gene Elkin was hired by the City as the first facility manager and is credited with establishing many of the policies and programs that remain today. Elkin realized that for the arena to achieve success, they had to establish programs and events that would bring both residents and those living in the surrounding communities back to skate again and again.
A comprehensive lesson program, a youth hockey program, and aggressive marketing made the Arena a success.
In a 1997 interview shortly before he retired, Elkin shared his memories of opening day when he had just one employee that was hired only the week before.
“I had no help”, he said with a laugh, “People were lined up out the door to come in and see the facility and skate. It was wild, I had no skate guards and as people came in – if they looked like they could skate – I put a jacket on them and told them to guard.”
Things have gone smoother since the excitement of that opening day and use of the facility grew enough to require expansion. In 1984, a small Studio Rink was built and in 1998, a second regulation rink was constructed to meet the needs of Mentor’s growing skating program.
Current Manager, Bill Furman, attributes the success of the arena to the many skaters and their families who have embraced the sport.
“For the past forty years, this arena has been home for generations of recreational and competitive skaters. The lessons learned, the accomplishments, and the friendships made, have been countless,” said Furman, “We are privileged to have been a second home for so many people over the years and are looking forward to the next forty.”
A FREE 40th Anniversary kickoff party will be held on Mentor Skate Day on Sunday, January 2, 2022, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
The public is invited to join the celebration with an open skate session. There will be giveaways, prizes, and a DJ. A special ceremony with Mentor City Council and other special guests will take place at 1:30 PM followed by cake.
Skate rental is also free, but availability may be limited. All children ten and under must wear a helmet. A limited number of helmets are available at the facility, so children are encouraged to bring their own bike helmet.
The Mentor Ice Arena is located at 8600 Munson Road.