Steinberg Rink Celebrates 50 Years Of Fun On Ice

Steinberg Skating Rink in Forest Park has been a St. Louis tradition for 50 years. The rink is closed for the season.

“We are inviting all skaters to come by the rink and help us celebrate the our 50th year,” said Anne Kasal, rink operator. "It's magical when you're skating outside."

On crisp winter days, the rink is filled with skaters of all ages and skill levels enjoying the rink. On cold nights, it is crowded with people who leave the city behind as they glide over the ice under the stars. Last winter, Steinberg Rink was voted "the most romantic place in St. Louis" by readers of the Post-Dispatch.

The rink is open for ice skating from November through March, depending on the weather.

The rink is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

Entrance fees are charged only for skating so the concession area can be a “destination” for joggers, bikers and those who want to watch the skaters but not participate.

Skating fees are $6 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. The fee is for the entire day. Skate rental is $2.50.

The Steinberg Café has a full food service with a menu that includes appetizers, snacks, sandwiches, burgers and pizza. Beer and wine are available.

Steinberg Rink recently has undergone a $1.4 million renovation of the outdoor facility. Improvements include a new rink surface and pipes for making ice, a new concrete surface surrounding the rink, new lights and sound system and landscaping.

“We wanted to make the skating rink a more inviting facility,” said Dan Skillman, Parks Commissioner. Funds for the renovation of the rink came from bond issue funds earmarked for Forest Park.

The Mark C. Steinberg Skating Rink in Forest Park has been a St. Louis tradition since the rink opened Nov. 11, 1957.

The rink was made possible by the family of Mark C. Steinberg, who was born in St. Louis in 1881. An investment broker, he was president of Mark C. Steinberg and Company and served on the board of several local businesses. When he died in 1951, the Steinberg Charitable Trust was formed.

His widow, Etta Steinberg, decided building an ice skating rink would be an ideal memorial to her husband since it combined two of his chief interests---youngsters and sports. Two-thirds of the $935,000 cost of the rink was from the Steinberg Trust. The City of St. Louis provided the remainder from general revenue and bond funds.

The Parks Department operated the rink from its opening until 1986. Since then it has been operated under a management contract. Anne Kasal is the rink operators. The Parks Department is responsible for the maintenance.