A slap shot at the buzzer will save three of Philadelphia’s five skating rinks slated for the chopping block under Mayor Michael Nutter’s budget cut plan.
Comcast Spectacor Chairman and Philadelphia Flyers owner, Ed Snider will be making a glove save for the three rinks.
Snider announced Tuesday that the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation (ESYHF) will now partner with the city to keep the Scanlon Ice Rink in Kensington, The Laura Sims Skatehouse at Cobbs Creek and the Rink at Simons Recreations and Teen Access Center open.
ESYHF will provide free hockey instruction and leagues, including all equipment, as well as educational services at no charge, all of which used to come with a price, according to the terms of the one-year deal.
The Philadelphia Department of Recreation will continue to maintain the rinks.
The city will save about $150,000 through the partnership.
Mayor Nutter said this public/private entity should be an example of how the city can find alternative means for some of the programs and facilities slated for closure as a result of a $108 million deficit.
Mayor Nutter will defend his budget cuts Tuesday night at one of eight scheduled town hall meetings at South Philadelphia High School. The meeting is called for at 7 -- the public should arrive around 6:30 to 6:45 p.m. and the school is located at 2101 S Broad Street.
