Grosse Pointe Park

Rec officials come up with unique ways to replicate traditional winter at snowless Chilly-Fest

By K. Michelle Moran
C & G Staff Writer

» Click on image to view full size « Photo by K. Michelle Moran Junior and Bessie, a pair of 16-year-old sibling Belgian heavy draft horses, pull a trolley transporting people between Patterson and Windmill Pointe parks in Grosse Pointe Park during Chilly-Fest Feb. 4. The horses are from McKenney Ranch in Yale. Photo by K. Michelle Moran Junior and Bessie, a pair of 16-year-old sibling Belgian heavy draft horses, pull a trolley transporting people between Patterson and Windmill Pointe parks in Grosse Pointe Park during Chilly-Fest Feb. 4. The horses are from McKenney Ranch in Yale. Grosse Pointe Park's Chilly-Fest

GROSSE POINTE PARK — The weather outside was more delightful than frightful Feb. 4, and that was more than fine with the folks attending the annual Chilly-Fest winter festival at Windmill Pointe and Patterson parks.

“Last year, it was snowing like a banshee, and we didn’t last long,” said Park mom Tricia Hexter, who was on hand with her kids, ages 3, 6 and 9. She was among the many parents who were thrilled to be at the festival on a milder than normal February day.

Although snowshoe walks, snowboarding demonstrations and snowmobile pulls had to be axed from the schedule because there was no snow, the festival still featured plenty to do, from crafts and face painting to tennis hockey, from inflatable playscapes to ice skating, from ice sculptures to tennis hockey and putt-putt golf. Given the lack of snow, recreation officials came up with a novel remedy: They used ice shavings from the Zamboni to create an area where youngsters could make snowmen. Spray bottles of food coloring, twigs, charcoal and carrots were available for kids to further personalize their creations.

“Even though there’s no snow, it’s still beautiful to be out here,” said Park mom Stacey Jarvis, who brought her children, Will, 10, and twins Emma and Jack, 4. “It doesn’t matter that it’s warm.”

While his younger siblings worked on a snowman, Will Jarvis agreed.

“It’s really fun,” he said.

Temperatures soared to the 40s in the afternoon — well above the normal average.

“I have never stayed (before) because it was too snowy and cold, so this is great,” resident Beth Kurta said of the bright day.

Beth and Frank Kurta and their sons, Joseph, 13, and Nicholas, 9, were hanging out at the Patterson Park ice rink with Nittany, their beagle mix. Beth Kurta said the family lives walking distance from the park. Joseph had been helping the Boy Scouts with their campout the night before the festival. He said he and his younger brother usually go to the park every other day to skate on the refrigerated rink.

“It’s a great way to spend a fun day with family and friends and neighbors,” Beth Kurta said. “We’re so lucky to live in a community with such great resources. It’s nice to have a reason to come (to the park) in the winter.”

For Sydney Burke, 5, the festival was an opportunity to lace up her skates and hit the rink. A guest of grandma Fran Burke of Grosse Pointe Park, the Waterford girl hasn’t been able to skate on the canal outside of her home this season because it hasn’t frozen, her grandmother explained.

“They were just delighted (to come to the festival),” Fran Burke said of her son and granddaughter. Following time on the ice, the youngest Burke was eager to hit the bouncy playscapes.

Alex and Sara Delgado of Grosse Pointe Park stopped for a snack at the Windmill Pointe Park concessions stand with their children, Isabella, 2, and Alejandro, almost 4, as well as Alex’s cousin, Luisa Frias, who was visiting from Mexico. Alejandro said he “had a lot of fun,” and his dad and mom concurred.

“It’s just really nice,” Alex Delgado said. “I had a lot of fun. The kids enjoyed it.”

Sara Delgado was among the many enjoying relatively mild temperatures.

“It’s never been this nice out (for the Chilly-Fest),” she said. “It’s normally freezing.”

Lifelong Park resident Michael Shaw lauded the chili served at Windmill Pointe Park, and he said he liked his first Rice Krispie treat. He said he tries to attend the festival each year.

“It’s a good break to get out from under the winter season,” Shaw said. “The sun is out. The sky is blue.”

Michelle and Andrew Harr and their three children, ages 8, 6 and 3, were equally pleased to be out on a pleasant day.

“I think we’re just enjoying time out with our kids,” Michelle Harr said. “They’re having a ball. … The weather has certainly agreed.”

The McKenney Ranch in Yale once again brought a horse-drawn trolley to shuttle visitors between the two parks. Visitors enjoyed petting and getting photos with Bessie and Junior, the gentle, 1,600-pound, 16-year-old brother and sister Belgian heavy draft horses who pulled the wagon. Jim McKenney, who owns the ranch, said they’ve been bringing their rig to the festival since it started.

Attendance was down a bit from previous years, said Parks and Recreation Director Terry Solomon, but people of all ages were still coming in droves to the parks. As of mid-afternoon, there had been more than 400 visitors to Patterson Park alone, she said.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at kmoran@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1047.