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WHEREAS, as part of the wide range of services offered to the citizens of Pittsburgh, Citiparks operates the Schenley Park Skating Rink at Overlook Drive in Schenley Park. Throughout the winter, the rink operates daily, offering a variety of Public and Special Sessions, Special Events and a meeting and banquet room available for rental year round; and,
WHEREAS, the first Mascot Skate was held in January 1988 with only 12 Mascots on the ice, one of which was the Pirate Parrott. In its first 4 years, the event was held at 7PM on a Thursday but has since been switched to Saturday afternoons at 1:30 for a larger and diversified attendance. Since then, the event has grown with strong early support from the late Mayor Bob O’Connor who brought his children and grandchildren to meet and greet the mascots and their fans and most recently with support and attendance from City Councilman Corey O’Connor and Mayor Bill Peduto; and,
WHEREAS, this year, Citiparks celebrates the 32nd Anniversary of the Annual Mascot Skate on Saturday, January 12, 2019, where nearly 40 of the Pittsburgh area’s favorite mascots including Iceburgh, Steely McBeam, the Pitt Panther, Murray the Squirrel, the Pirate Parrot, Alcosan’s Frankie the Fish, the Penn State Nittany Lion, the Freddie the Flame and more are expected to meet and greet fans, take pictures and enjoy television and newspaper coverage. Media sponsor this year is WSHH 99.7 and Eat ‘N Park will provide Smiley Cookies for all the children and their parents; and,
WHEREAS, special kudos go out to those who have made the Annual Mascot Skate such a tremendous success, this year hosting up to 500 children and parents. Event Manager for all 30 years has been Bill Backa with special thanks to former Rink Managers, Eric Vanden Hengel, Tom Driscoll, the late Web Kolling and the current Rink Manager Mirella Ranallo; and,
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize Citiparks for its creative and resourceful event planning and congratulates the Schenley Park Skating Rink on the 32nd Anniversary of the City of Pittsburgh’s/Citiparks Mascot Skate; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Saturday, January 8, 2019, to be “MASCOT SKATE DAY” in the City of Pittsburgh.