NORWICH – After a strangely mild start of the winter season, the Borden Avenue Skating facility is ready to welcome skaters after temperatures recently dropped to more seasonable levels.

Without notice of its opening early last week, the skating facility on Borden Ave. brought in 93 skaters on opening on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Since then, news of it finally opening got around the community and those numbers in attendance have gradually climbed. The opening of the skate rink has been a long-time coming for skate enthusiasts in the community and it’s better late than never, said Youth Bureau Director Robert Mason.

“People see it up and the word just kind of spreads ... kids really look forward to having it open – family and large groups too,” Mason said. “This is the latest opening I think we’ve ever had.”

After receiving a $3,500 donation from the R.C. Smith Foundation for the purchase and installment of a new rubber matted floor inside the facility last fall and a more recent donation of funds to replace worn hockey nets, local support for the skating facility has kept it improving, said Mason.