Amelia Park Ice Rink and Memorial Garden facts for kids

The Amelia Park facilities are a special place in Westfield, Massachusetts, United States. The Amelia Park Ice Rink is the only ice rink in Westfield. This amazing place was built by Albert Ferst to honor his late wife, Amelia. It's a non-profit center, meaning it's here to serve the community.

The main building is huge, about 47,000-square-foot (4,400 m²)! Inside, you'll find a cool lounge for figure skating, three party rooms, and a spot to rent or sharpen skates. There are also four locker rooms and a place to grab some food. Right next to the main building, there's an outdoor inline skating rink that's 65 feet by 170 feet. Beautiful gardens also stretch across 3.1 acres (13,000 m²) right across from the arena's main entrance.

Discover Amelia Park: A Community Hub

Amelia Park is a busy spot for many activities and events. You can enjoy open skating times, watch exciting hockey games, or even play Sled Hockey. Teams from Westfield State University, St. Mary's High School, and Westfield High School all use the rink.

The Story Behind Amelia Park

Albert and Amelia Ferst, who lived in Westfield, MA, were very involved in their community. They owned a successful business for many years. With the money they earned, the Fersts helped fund important projects. They supported The Albert and Amelia Ferst Interfaith Center at Westfield State University. They also helped renovate the Westfield Boy's and Girl's Club.

Amelia, who her husband called Millie, had a dream. She wanted to build an ice rink for the children in their community. After Amelia passed away, Albert spent a lot of money to make her dream come true. He created the ice rink in her honor. He also built a beautiful garden next to the rink to remember her. There's even a children's museum being built nearby, and Albert donated a lot of money to help with that too. When you walk into the arena, you can see a picture of Albert and Amelia.

What You Can Do at Amelia Park

Hit the Ice: The Ice Rink

The Amelia Park Ice Rink is a standard size, just like those used in the NHL. It has seats for 600 fans! Besides the ice rink, the main building has a pro shop, four locker rooms, and places to buy snacks. Hockey teams from Westfield State University use the rink for practice and their home games. The university even provides shuttles so fans can easily come to watch. Local high school teams also play their hockey games here. Many adult leagues and independent teams use the facilities too.

Outside, there's an inline skating rink where many leagues play deck hockey. The ice arena offers open skate times for everyone several days a week. You can also take skating classes for all ages. If you love hockey, there are lessons and camps available.

Explore Nature: Amelia's Memorial Garden

Amelia's Garden is a peaceful place that covers over an acre. It has many different kinds of plants. You'll find a lovely fountain, a charming gazebo, and a waterfall. The garden hosts public events, like popular summer concerts on Tuesday nights. You can even rent the garden for special occasions like weddings, photoshoots, or other gatherings. In the winter, the gardens light up with Christmas lights. There's even a special area for Santa's house where families can visit Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

Fun for Kids: The Children's Museum

The Amelia Park Children's Museum is located at 29 South Broad Street in Westfield, Massachusetts. The museum offers memberships, which give you free admission for a year and discounts on parties. They have different events and exhibits throughout the year. There are also playgroups for children of all ages.

The museum hosts themed birthday parties and field trips for local schools. They also have rooms you can rent. The Amelia Park Museum and Arena offer community service and work study jobs for students from local schools.

The museum is currently being updated. Visitors can even buy a special brick with a personal message. These bricks will become part of the new entrance to the building.