Four-year-old Leah Wilson skates with her mother Kristal, both of Lawrence, Sunday afternoon at the ice rink in downtown Lawrence.

I went ice-skating — or maybe I went ice-scooting — at the Lawrence Plaza Skate Rink Monday.

After a letter to the editor and several members of the public criticized the new ice-skating rink, at 707 Vermont St. between the library and the parking garage, I was assigned to go see what all the fuss is about.

So I bragged to my colleagues that I grew up ice-skating, that I can do a few tricks, that I’m practically Michelle Kwan. This assignment was going to be a piece of cake.

Then I fell – hard – twice during my first lap.

“Skating” on the synthetic ice was a bit like sliding in socks on a heavily waxed gym floor. You move, but not very far. And if you try to skate like you would on real ice, you end up on the ground, like I did.

Nathan Drewry, Lawrence, helps his daughter with a skating move at the Library Plaza Skate Rink Monday, Jan. 5, 2015. The rinks synthetic ice means the rink can be used even in warm weather, but some skaters are finding the surface difficult to glide on.

Ice rink employee Sydney Studer said she also grew up ice-skating. She said at Lawrence Parks and Recreation’s employee orientation to introduce staff to the rink she asked, “Is it finished?”

“Everyone who goes from ice-skating (to the synthetic ice) is a little disappointed you can’t really glide,” Studer said, “but it’s a great way to get outside in the winter.”

Studer said first-time skaters, especially children, love the rink. And you can’t beat the price at $3 per skate rental.

“You can stay for 20 minutes or you can stay for an hour,” Studer said. “That beats spending the gas money to Kansas City, then paying $10 or $15 for a pair of skates.”

One benefit of synthetic ice I discovered is that falling doesn’t hurt as bad as falling on real ice. The synthetic substance, which appears to be pieced together like a child’s play mat, is noticeably less dense than real ice, Lawrencian Brian Williams said.

“It’s like walking on hard plastic with metal blades on your feet, not ice skating,” Williams said. “However, you can still fall, which is nice.”

To be safe, the rink does employ ice rink versions of lifeguards. Employees don neon vests and fanny-packs filled with Band-Aids and help skaters avoid those who’ve fallen, Lawrence Parks and Recreation aquatics programmer and ice rink manager Mike Escalante said.

After skating on real ice rinks before, Kansas University student Kaitlyn Klein was disappointed with the city’s new addition.

“Great idea, poor execution,” Klein said. “I’m not a fan of synthetic ice. It’s difficult to skate on.”

Though Mayor Mike Amyx did not support – and continues to question – the $80,000 expenditure for the rink, he said he can appreciate the beauty of the rink downtown.

“My wife and I have watched skaters from the library coffee shop and there is always a lot of smiles and laughing going on, and that makes it all worth it,” Amyx said. “The decision has been made, so let’s go on. It’s something that will be around for a while.”

City officials said in August that they hoped the project would bring more people downtown during the holiday season.

As of Tuesday, 7,452 skates had been rented, Escalante said, meaning the city has brought in about $22,356 in skate rentals. Skaters cannot use their own skates; they must rent skates designed for the synthetic ice.

Escalante said “several” of the 7,452 skaters have been repeat customers, but Lawrence skater Travis Berkley said he will not be one of them.

“It is not like ice skating at all,” Berkley said. “Glad I went once, but I doubt I’ll be back.”

Amyx said that the public should consider why the rink was originally built.

“You have to understand that it is not a professional ice skating rink,” Amyx said. “It was designed to fit a need of exercise opportunity and appearance.”