Owen Weiss (OW): Welcome back to Clayton News Network. I’m your host, Owen Weiss, and today we’ll be talking with fellow Claytonite, Zak Baisch, about the ice skating rink. But before we get started, make sure to leave a comment on your opinion on ice skating. Follow for more episodes and leave our podcast a five-star rating. Let’s get started.
Zak Baisch (ZB): So my name is Zak Baisch. I’m a father of four kids, a graduate of Clayton, resident of Clayton. and a business owner that works in Clayton. So all the above.
OW: All right, so let’s just let’s just get started. So my first question is, how often did you go to the ice skating rink at Shaw Park when we still had it?
ZB: So growing up, uh, the ice skating rink was a regular for us. Um, I played hockey for Clayton High School, and we had a majority of our practices at Shaw Park Ice Rink.
(Maggie Baisch): That’s where you met your wife.
ZB: My wife and I, both, uh, who were not dating at the time, but we were friends in high school. Both worked and were, um, ice skating rink guards at Shaw Park. I used to give private hockey lessons at Shaw Park. So, um, I was at Park Ice Rink a lot.
OW: That’s fun. So you probably have a lot of connections to there?
ZB: Yes, very much so.
OW: So did you ever, like, play hockey there or ice skate, or did you just work there?
ZB: Oh, yeah. I mean, I used to give all my lessons on ice there. Our hockey practices were there. Um, they never had high school hockey games there, but we always had practices there. And then, uh, we would do some seasonal fun scrimmage games and stuff like that with alumni and, uh, parents and different stuff.
OW: That’s fun. Kind of keeping everyone close together.
ZB: Yeah. And then I don’t remember if it was the high school or the junior high, but we used to have broomball tournaments there, too. So the community would, uh, get together and go up there and, you know, it was a great outdoor ice rink. During the holidays, we would have family come in town and go up there, and there was always a fire, and you could buy hot chocolate inside and, uh, take the kids ice skating.
OW: It was such a fun environment over there.
ZB: It really was.
OW: What would you say was your favorite memory from there?
ZB: I would have to say that it really was the you know, going to Clayton High School and playing hockey for Clayton High School and having our own rink there where we got to go. Um, it was just a lot of fun. We spent a lot of time there doing practices and freezing cold weather. Um, and it was, I mean, that’s hockey. And, you know, they don’t have a lot of outdoor rinks nowadays. So that was fun back then. But, uh, it’s definitely a hockey.
OW: Yeah. Um, you kind of already answered this, but in what ways do you feel like it helped connect the Clayton community?
ZB: Well, it was just a place where people could always go. I think, um, the high school would have, uh, broomball there. The hockey team was up there. There were Little League teams that would get ice up there. So it’d bring families together that way. Holidays would come in. We’re coming up on Thanksgiving and Christmas. And as people come into town and they’re spending quality family time together, it’s a great thing to do, uh, to get outside and enjoy some quality time together.
OW: Yeah, I definitely agree. Um, I just remember always going down there with friends, and then there were always people you knew there, and you were never really, like, bored when you were down there.
ZB: And I, yeah, I think that’s a great point, Owen, and, um, you know, nowadays there’s a real lack of places for, um, your generation to hang out. And the ice rink was somewhere where, you know, there was always kind of a group of people up there that people could go up there and they could skate. And, um, it was just a good place. And on the evenings, there was some family skating. But then there were also older kids who kind of took over the place, which I think we’re really lacking in our community.
OW: Yeah, and that was something that like, everyone can kind of do, like ice skating, because there’s a lot of things like pickleball that’s not really something that like everyone’s interested in. But at an ice skating rink, there’s so much you can do, even, like, if you don’t like ice skating, you can just go there and, like you said, just like sit around the fire or engage in conversation with your friends.
ZB: Yep.
OW: Uh, do you think that if we ever got back the ice skating rink, that hosting hockey games would be, like, a possibility that could bring the community together?
ZB: Oh, I think that would be wonderful. Um, depending on how they set it up and if they had stands. Yeah, I think that would be a great thing to do. You know, there is a real shortage of ice, and, uh, and the Saint Louis community for as many teams as we’ve had as we have, and, um, I definitely think that there would be games that were played, uh, both Little League and with the Clayton, um, the Clayton schools.
OW: Yeah, how does the hockey world feel about the ice skating rink being missing from Shaw Park?
ZB: Um, I think a lot of people feel like they got, uh, kind of shorted on that whole thing. So, from what I understand, the rink was too expensive to maintain. So it was in the budget to, uh, tear it down and then replace it and update everything. Um, and then COVID happened, and that had a tremendous impact on our taxes. So it was torn down with a promise to rebuild. And then COVID happened, and we never got the promise to rebuild. You know, Clayton is a very special community, I think, in Saint Louis, and it’s kind of an Emerald City. And for the ice rink that definitely could use updating and beautification, um, back then. But at least we had something. And now the slab’s there with pickleball nets, and I just think it’s it’s a little embarrassing.
OW: Yeah. Because then in the winter, when it’s too cold to play pickleball, it’s just going to be a slab again, and no one’s gonna really be able to use it for its intended purpose.
ZB: Right.
OW: Um, how would it benefit, like not only the hockey community, but just everyone to bring it back? Because that’s kind of what this season of our podcast is about.
ZB: Well, I mean it. I think it’s always a place for the community and I think for kids to gather, um, that they’re lacking, for a place that we discussed earlier. Um, I think it’s a great place for families and kids to spend time. Um, you know, as you have kids and you, you do things to entertain them and spend quality time with them, there’s only so many bounce houses and things like that that you can do. And, um, taking your kids out and getting a little exercise and having it being right down the street, um, I think it’s a great thing for families to do. Um, I think it’s a good draw for Clayton. So I think there are many things. I think it makes the community look stronger in the Saint Louis area. It’s a place for families to hang out. It’s a place for the kids to hang out. Um, and it promotes Clayton athletics. Even though hockey is a club sport, it’s a very popular sport. And we’re coming off a couple of years of winning our first state championship. This year, we beat Ladue, our arch-rival, for the first time in like four years in a regular-season game. And, uh, we have a really strong hockey team that has an opportunity to be a real contender this year and next year. And we don’t have a home ice rink where the players can practice.
OW: Yeah. Well, that is all the questions I have. Thank you so much for doing this. Um, I loved all your responses. I entirely agree with everything you said. Yeah.
ZB: Great. Well, that was easy.
OW: It was.
ZB: Alrighty. Well, uh, I appreciate you looking me up for this, and, uh, let me know how this all goes.
OW: All right. Thank you for joining me today.
ZB: Take care, Owen.
OW: You too, see ya.
(OW): Thank you so much for tuning in to yet another episode of Clayton News Network. I’m your host, Owen Weiss, and don’t forget to leave a comment on your opinion of ice skating. Also, please leave us a five-star review and follow our podcast for more amazing episodes like this one. Thank you so much, and we’ll see you soon.
