A campaign to raise the funds needed to build a portable, seasonal, outdoor, ice-skating rink in Ashland was kicked off today. The campaign to raise $200,000 by July 1, is already halfway toward meeting its goal. Gifts and pledges totalling $106,000 have been made for the ice rink, including a challenge grant of $55,000 from Darex Corporation.
Dave Bernard, President of Darex made this pledge public at a press conference today, saying, "We are pleased to be able to give something back to the community that has been so good to us." The ice rink will occupy an area of approximately 7,200 square feet. It will be located on a city parking lot at the corner of Nutley and Winburn Way.
The rink will be in operation during the months of November through February, and the site will revert to a parking lot during the balance of the year. Earlier, the Ashland City Council agreed to transfer the site to the Parks Department for this purpose, and the Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission has agreed to undertake the maintenance of the site and operation of the skating rink once it is installed.
Parks and Recreation Department Director Ken Mickelson said, "The Parks Department views the ice rink as a perfect fit with the other recreational opportunities that we maintain and operate for the citizens of Ashland." He added, "No city tax dollars will be used for the purchase of this facility, and we anticipate charging a modest admission fee to offset operating costs as is done with the Meyer Pool. We want the facility to be affordable and accessible to people of all ages."
According to Bow Seltzer, spokesperson for the committee raising the money for the purchase of the rink, "Our deadline for having the funds in place is July 1. By meeting that deadline, we can order the equipment and have it installed in time to open the skating rink this coming Thanksgiving, in time for the Festival of Light."
Gifts for the purchase of the ice-skating rink are tax-deductible, and may be made to the Ashland Parks and Recreation Department. Gifts should specify that they are for that purpose. They may be mailed or delivered to the Parks office at 340 S. Pioneer Street in Ashland. All gifts will be held in a special account, and gifts of $5.00 or more will be returned to the donors if for some reason the rink is not completed, according to Ken Mickelson. The skating rink's Web page address is http://www.opendoor.com/icerink/.