By Steve Hartman
CBS News
February 19, 2021, 6:51 PM
Ice rink brings Michigan community together during dark winter
When that inner voice spoke to Scott Chittle and told him to "build it," the Manton, Michigan resident felt compelled to listen. When the pandemic forced shut downs, Chittle decided what Manton needed more than anything was an outdoor ice rink.
Never mind that his own kids didn't even skate — or that hardly any kids in the city skated. But he felt the community needed some place safe to gather, whether they realized it or not.
When folks failed to flock to his house, Chittle actually went door to door coercing them to come.
"I was upset," he said. "I was like, 'Are you kidding me?! Tell your kid to come outside and go ice skating!'"
It's not really "if you build it, they will come." Rather, it's: If you build it and go harass some families, they'll come.
"That's true, as well, because they're coming, that's for certain," Chittle said, laughing.
They are coming — in droves. ...
A northern Michigan dad built an ice rink in
his backyard from scratch to give the kids in his
small town a bit of fun and magic through this
dark winter. Handout / Derek Sutton
Read & See more at: Ice rink brings Michigan community together during dark winter
