Time is right for outdoor rink: Baker

Amherst Daily News

By Chris Dowbiggin

AMHERST - Deputy Mayor George Baker has expressed desire to build an outdoor rink in Amherst for the last few years, but he says the role the community plays in the planning and construction is important.
Baker is more than willing to help do his part in the process, and is interested in seeing how many residents agree.
“My goal over this winter is to see how many people in the community are interested in helping out,” said Baker.
“Because the town has all these places to set up one now, that I’m thinking we can get a group of people that would come forward and say ‘Let’s do something about it and get some fundraising done’ it would definitely help pay for it because I don’t think it would cost much to put a temporary rink to take down in the spring and get your grass back.”
Baker already has a few ideal locations in mind, namely Dickey Park and the basketball court by Robb’s Centennial Ballpark on Lawrence Street.
“The basketball court is just sitting around covered in snow all winter,” said Baker.
 “I’m thinking why can’t we put boards two or three feet high around that area and work with what we have?
Baker knows it hasn’t been easy to plan an outdoor rink in the past. The Lions Club tried to build one for this winter, but plans fell through because of a lack of volunteer work.
Walter Jones is a former member of the Lions Club. He knows this is a kind of project that is easy to plan, but hard to execute when volunteer recruitment is scarce.
“We promoted our idea in many ways and got a lot of public response, but when it came to getting volunteers to supervise and maintain the rink, we only had one person show up at our meeting,” said Jones.
But doing his own fundraising is no tough obstacle for Baker, as he has contributed much to the community in that aspect during his time served as deputy mayor.
 “I have no problem going out and doing fundraisers. I’m doing one now for Bright Beginnings Daycare. I could get some parents involved and help turn this around and to build and maintain it,” said Baker.
One of the positive outlooks on a project like this, is the minimal cost for a full winters’ usage, with Baker estimating costs to be no more than $10,000.
“I don’t know if it even costs that because I’m hoping there would be people in the community coming out and donating wood, and it shouldn’t cost much at all to maintain it, if volunteers are willing to flood it on a regular basis,” said Baker.
While Jones agrees the town could always use a new outdoor ice skating spot, he said it’s not something worth doing if helping hands are few in Amherst.
“Why should we hand something to people if they’re not going to participate and help in it?”
But Baker said he will bring up the topic at the next town council meeting on Monday, Jan. 10.
“I’m going to try to get the blessing from the council next meeting. If we can get the community to step up and help, then maybe they will consider the basketball court on St. Lawrence Street, and then take the boards down in the Spring time. That way you get full usage of the basketball court instead of just using it in the summer and then not using it for the rest of the year.”