Springfield Police to Host Annual Learn-To-Skate Program for Children
Springfield, Mass. — The Springfield Police Department is pleased to announce that SPD officers will once again be taking part in the Stephen O’Brien Memorial Learn-to-Skate Program with children from the community, with the first session taking place this coming Saturday.
WHERE:
Cyr Arena (Forest Park), 200 Trafton Road, Springfield
WHEN:
Sessions will begin Saturday, Nov. 26th. Each session will be held from 3-4 p.m. Children wishing to participate are asked to arrive by 2:30 p.m. each week. The additional sessions will be held on December 3rd, 10th, 17th, January 7th and 14th.
A Learn-to-Skate Christmas Party will be held immediately following the Dec. 17 session, which will include a visit from Santa Claus.
WHO:
Members of the Springfield Police Department will be present for each session.
WHAT:
This year marks the 26th anniversary of the Stephen O’Brien Memorial Learn-to-Skate Program, and the 25th year it has taken place (the event was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). As part of the program, Springfield Police officers teach children of all ages how to ice skate.
The program is free of charge, including skate rental, ice time and instruction. Children are asked to bring a properly fitted bicycle or hockey helmet and gloves to keep their hands warm.
The program is open to all children, not just Springfield residents.
Children are not required to participate in every session and may take part in as many sessions as they wish.
About Officer O’Brien
Springfield Police Officer Stephen O’Brien died of cancer in 2015 at the age of 56.
A native of Springfield, he worked for several years at the Hampden County Registry of Probate before joining the Springfield Police Department in 1986.
In addition to golfing and coaching baseball for many years in Westfield, Officer O’Brien was one of the first Springfield Police officers who took part in the “Learn-to-Skate” program at Cyr Arena that is now named in his honor.
