Construction has begun on a $6 million ice-rink complex, scheduled to open in February at the northwest corner of Taft Street and Flamingo Road.
The two-story complex will sit on 6.3 acres just north of C.B. Smith Park and will feature two ice-skating rinks, a rink for in-line skating, dance studio, pro shop, restaurant overlooking the ice, 15 rooms for private parties, arcade and locker rooms for hockey teams.
The arena will offer group ice-skating classes and an eight-week hockey class where participants can learn the basics of ice skating and handling a hockey stick at the same time.
“We’re really excited to be coming to the Pines,” said Robin Epstein, co-owner of the Pembroke Pines Ice Skating Arena.
City Commissioner Frank Ortis said people are looking forward to the ice arena, which will be the third rink in Broward County.
“I’ve heard only positive comments about it,” he said.
Epstein’s husband, Shlomo, said the couple was attracted by the large numbers of families moving to the city.
“When we were looking for sites, we found Pembroke Pines is the biggest and fastest growth site,” he said.
The Epsteins and their partners, Morton and Marilyn Stern, own the Miami Ice Arena, which opened in 1993. They are planning to open an ice rink in Kendall.
Broward’s other skating rinks are the Sunrise Ice Skating Center, 3363 N. Pine Island Road, and the Gold Coast Ice Arena, 4601 N. Federal Highway, Pompano Beach.
Robin Epstein said that ice sports have become increasingly popular in South Florida.
“A lot of it was the Panthers,” she said, adding that interest also increases “any time something happens in the figure-skating world.”
