Published: July 19, 2008 07:46 pm            

City officials would like to bring ice skating to Bluefield

BLUEFIELD — Could ice skating be in Bluefield’s future?

City officials are hoping a proposed synthetic skating rink for Bluefield can become a reality. The idea for the proposed skating rink at city park was recently brought to the city Board of Directors by Bea Paine. It is envisioned as a winter attraction for Bluefield, Mayor Linda Whalen said.

“We think it is a wonderful project, and we endorse it,” Whalen said. “But she (Paine) is the one who is spearheading the project to make it a reality. It would be on city property, and the city would own it and then run it. But she is the one who will spearhead the fundraising.”

Paine recalled a time years ago when people skated on a frozen patch at Bluefield City Park. Unlike the real ice those people skated on, the artificial ice would be both less expensive and less difficult to maintain. It could also remain up both winter and summer because it does not melt.

“My idea is to have something for people to do around the winter time,” she said. “Especially youth, but it’s for everybody. Not just for Bluefield but for the whole area.”

Whalen said city officials have had one meeting to discuss the project. Whalen said the project is in the “really early” stages of development.

“She (Paine) is getting all of the information together to determine what the cost would be,” Whalen said. “I don’t know how many months out of the year (it would be open), but it would be more of a winter type of activity. We think it is a wonderful idea. We think it is a great activity in the winter. We don’t have a lot of activities going on in the city park in the winter. It would be a great opportunity for our whole community. It is always exciting when someone in the community wants to take a lead on a project, and raise the money and do something to make Bluefield better. We are thrilled with her enthusiasm.”

Craig Hammond, a former city mayor and director of the Bluefield Union Mission, said the initial meeting generated a lot of excitement and interest.

“It would really add to the mix that we are trying to create in the downtown,” Hammond said. “We would have not only professional, financial and retail, but we think there ought to be more recreational opportunities. We think this recreational venue would really compliment our downtown. We are forward looking to where we want our downtown to be in the next five to 10 years. We lost our Social Security, but we are not quitting.”

Hammond said the synthetic surface of the proposed ice rink would be able to withstand a lot of abuse.

“It is year round, but it was developed to stand up to the abuse of hockey playing,” Hammond said. “And that is brutal. We would only be using it for recreational skating. It can be indoors or outdoors.”

“The city is not funding this proposed project,” Whalen said. “She (Paine) is the person who is taking the lead. Of course she has been active in the city for many years. For her to lead a project is nothing new for her. We are always excited about volunteers getting active and making the city better. That is what it is going to take.”

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com

— Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.