The Downtown Huntsville BIA thinks there’s something missing from the town’s core in the winter: a skating rink. Members of the organization explained their idea to Huntsville’s Operations and Protective Services Committee on July 24.
“We feel it will bring people downtown during the winter. There’s not currently a winter festival in Huntsville,” said Morgan Richter, BIA Manager. “We see a lot of action at the [children’s] park, so we’re thinking it will attract the families that go to the park.” She added that they had discussed the idea of encouraging BIA businesses to set up stands on weekend evenings to provide snacks or hot chocolate. They also discussed the possibility of music and coloured LED lights beneath the ice.
Joan Wager, Vice-Chair of the BIA’s board, said that the rink would be ideal for families with younger children and that it wouldn’t be suited for hockey games.
The BIA proposed placing the rink between the back side of the bandshell and the sidewalk adjacent to the River Mill Park parking lot. That area would allow for a rink measuring about 33 feet wide by 55 feet long. Wager said that the BIA looked at other possible locations in the park, but that the slope of the land made their suggested location the best option. Ken Atwood, who would be maintaining the rink, added that they had looked at the possibility of a skating trail but that the topography made that out of the question.
The skating rink would be built from wood, with low boards lining the perimeter—short enough that young children could step over them. To offset the cost of the rink, the BIA would ask businesses for sponsorship donations and would include their logos on the boards.
The BIA has requested use of a nearby hydrant to initially fill the rink—a plastic liner would contain the water—after which it would be flooded a few times during the season using a water hose run from one of the businesses facing the park.
The BIA also proposed placing benches and rubber mats on the stage of the bandshell where people could change into their skates.
Weather permitting, the rink would be open from November 2019 through March 2020.
Although several councillors said that they liked the idea, they were left with more questions than answers.
Councillor Tim Withey reminded the committee that the 2020 provincial high school cross-country ski championships will be hosting races in the park in February and he wondered how the rink would be monitored if the BIA doesn’t want it used for some purposes, like hockey.
Councillor Dan Armour wanted to know if snow removal from the rink had been considered and how it might affect snow removal in the adjacent parking lot.
Councillor Nancy Alcock had questions about music given that the park is adjacent to a residential area.
Town staff were directed to look at whether the proposed rink location is feasible and to develop a Memorandum of Understanding outlining what the BIA and the Town would be responsible for, and to return to committee with those details in a report for consideration.
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I’ve been recommending this idea since the inception of the park. Personally, I feel that there should be an age limit for the youngsters; probably 5 or 6. Otherwise, youngsters with hockey skates or figure skates will be interfering with adults and toddlers. It should be a safe place to learn to skate, and to determine if the former activities are to your liking.
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And why only weekend drinks and snacks?; provided by the BIA? If the music and LED lights were eliminated, possibly an independent operator could be subsidized to be there for an extended period of time (including weekdays)? It would be terrific if the Town could develop a “signature” offering: otherwise, “beaver tails” would attract more than just skaters.