NORWICH – With milder winters forcing the Borden Ave. skating facility in the City of Norwich to close early and often in recent years, city officials are now pondering the option of building a steel roof over rink in hopes that it will lead to less maintenance costs and more skaters in the future.
Thanks to a recent offer from the Norwich-based Follett Foundation, the prospect of building a roof over the skating facility is seeming like less of a pipe dream and more of a reality, say city officials, as the longtime concept may now have a chance of coming to fruition.
Robert Mason, Director of the Norwich City Youth Bureau, pitched the idea to the city’s Common Council last week. Despite the enormous cost of building a steel roof over the 16,000 square foot rink – an undertaking that bears a $250,000 price tag – the current proposal suggests the project would be entirely funded by a philanthropic donation to the city, he said, and would come at no cost to the taxpayer.
“It would be a tremendous help,” said Mason, noting how often the skating facility closes due to snow, rain, and sun exposure. “The last few years have been terrible as far as ice goes. We might get one good day for skating but then the ice melts and it can take weeks to re-freeze.”
In 2011, the Borden Ave. skating facility remained open for a total 30 days, bringing in 1,816 skaters from all over the area. Those numbers dropped significantly to eight days open in 2012 (with 562 skaters) and only seven days so far for 2013 (with 473 skaters), according to records kept by the Norwich City Youth Bureau.
“It does get busy when we can keep the rink open,” Mason added. “We have the only outdoor skating facility of its kind around.”
A roof would also help lower some maintenance duties, he pointed out, and allow for other outdoor activities such as concerts, dances, movies, craft fairs, and other events to take place at the facility year-round. If additional programs are added, he said the city may be able to charge a fee or rent out the facility to offset some costs.
“As it stands now, we are at the mercy of Mother Nature,” said Norwich City Mayor Joseph Maiurano, citing the low number of days the rink has been able to stay open in recent years. “This might be a luxury item, but it’s a great asset for improving the quality of life ... it’s something the city would be able to add to its resume and the reasons that anyone might want to live in the Norwich community.”
In spite of its apparent advantages, the roofing proposal was met with uncertainty from some city officials, including Ward Four Alderman Walter Schermerhorn, who said that while building a roof would come at little to no cost for the city, maintaining it and expanding certain programs would. “It’s a good program, but we have to look at the big picture, too,” he added.
Should the proposal for a steel roof come to fruition, city officials say construction would not start until next year. Mason is currently seeking community input and ideas of what Norwich residents hope to see at the skating rink if a roof is constructed. Norwich residents who would like to offer feedback can contact the Norwich City Youth Bureau at 334-1206 or via email, rmason@norwichnewyork.net.