Michigan man builds an ice rink in his yard to bring neighbors together

People ice skating.
(Image credit: iStock)

Whether they want to skate or play hockey, everyone is welcome at Steve Chittle's backyard ice rink.

Chittle lives in Manton, Michigan, and wanted to do something that would lift spirits amid the pandemic. His children don't skate, but that didn't stop Chittle from going through with his idea of building a small ice rink on his property. Once he was finished, he knocked on doors to spread the word, and soon there were neighborhood kids darting around on the ice.

The parents, thrilled that their kids are having fun outside and not on their phones, have chipped in to buy skates and hockey sticks so everyone can enjoy the rink. "We all know that you've got to provide for your kids, but somehow you've got to give them some magic every now and again," Chittle told CBS News. "Just give a kid some magic. It doesn't get any better than that."

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.