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County set to accept donation of ice skating rink for Dewitt

By Howard B. Owens

Next winter, you might be able to play outdoor hockey, or just ice skate, at the Dewitt Recreation Area on Cedar Street in Batavia.

The plan for the county park has always included the idea of installing an outdoor ice rink at the park, but the construction has never been funded.

At yesterday's Public Service Committee meeting of the County Legislature, Highway Superintended Tim Hens said the Oakfield-Alabama Central School District is ready to donate an outdoor ice rink to the county.

The district purchased the rink some years ago with grant money, and though it proved popular when put into use, hasn't been used in recent years and the district doesn't plan to put it to use in the future.

The rink comes with 50 pairs of ice skates.

The committee agreed by consensus to allow Hens to accept the donation on behalf of the county.

The rink will likely be installed in the depression area in the middle of the walking path at the front of the park, which is the area originally designed to eventually contain a rink.

Jason Crater

It was sarcasm...it's like saying the best way to prevent a harsh winter is to buy a new snowblower.

Where is your sense of humor?

I think it's great that the park is getting an ice rink!!!

Feb 17, 2016, 11:21am Permalink
Timothy Hens

Just some clarification, this is a very preliminary exploration with Oakfield-Alabama Schools. Don't want to imply that we are farther along in this process than we are. County Parks needed some indication from the Public Service Committee last night as to whether this was a worthy opportunity. Now that we have that concurrence, we will be attending the OACS School Board meeting on February 23rd to discuss further.

Feb 17, 2016, 1:44pm Permalink
Jason Crater

Tim you really do a great job with community outreach on this site. Keep up the great work. It's really nice to hear straight talk from our local government.

Feb 17, 2016, 1:48pm Permalink

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