The pond at Osbornedale State Park was open to ice skaters Thursday for the first time in years.
The move comes after former Alderman Ron Sill wrote a letter that was published in the Valley Gazette asking why state officials weren’t offering the pond as a place for local kids to skate. The letter caused lots of Derby people to ponder the same question.
He then started asking local park workers, who explained they usually don’t open the pond for skaters unless there’s at least 5.5 inches of ice on the pond.
Sill also contacted Valley politicians who represent Derby in Hartford, including Linda Gentile, Joe Crisco and Themis Klarides.
His persistence paid off. A local park worker called him Thursday and said the pond was open for skaters.
Sill was happy, as Derby kids are off from school this week.
Skating at the pond was a Derby tradition for generations. Sill said he was grateful to see it return.
“It has to be the first time it was open in at least 10 years,” Sill said.
