Skating Rink to go Downtown

Following weeks of debate, the Blue Ridge City Council voted Tuesday to place its new ice skating rink downtown in the park. Last month, council faced the possibility of one of two locations for the rink, downtown in the park or the Farmer’s Market. Earlier this month, residents and business owners advocated locating the rink in or near the Farmer’s Market, near the Blue Ridge Community Theatre and a short distance from the high school.

During a recent Blue Ridge City Council workshop, theatre chairman Joe Webb argued for the Farmer’s Market Location.

“Blue Ridge is more than downtown,”

he said,

“The city limits go past downtown…It’s actually over by the theatre; it’s over by the high school; it’s over by the Swan Drive-in.”

He went on to say the market and businesses on this part of town on East First Street are also tourist attractions.

“I’d like us to think about Blue Ridge being a little bit bigger,”

he said. Webb’s comment underscored all of the targeted marketing groups presented earlier by the mayor and council. In earlier discussions, Whitener said the rink would provide an activity for young kids during the winter months. The Farmer’s Market’s proximity to the high school would offer easy access for this group. But, council voted to sign the previous contract, which places the rink downtown.

While approving the contract, council voted for a few changes to the document. The first adjustment was in section three, changing the verbiage to read: sponsors’ money collected shall accrue directly to the City of Blue Ridge’s general fund. And, section four was changed to read: The rental fees are not to exceed $40,000.

Mayor Whitener said the city has already received donations to make up the residual cost. One unnamed individual donated $3000; Light up Blue Ridge (Lynda Thompson and Sue Griffin) also donated $3000; The Lodging Association donated $1000 and the Business Association will donate to the cause too, although Whitener said she does not know the amount yet. The mayor also said that some of the larger donors are from or have interest in the downtown area. Additionally, the city has allocated $5000 from the tourism fund, which receives its revenue from the lodging sales tax.

“We have some other money coming,”

she said, “

Coca-Cola is working on…some sponsorship money for us.”

She added that Coca Cola will allow the city to use a trailer for a concession stand. Whitener said she expects to hear back from Coca Cola about the sponsorship money by next Friday.

In talking to other areas that have had a skating rink, like Centennial Park, Conyers, and Fort Walton Beach, Florida, council and Whitener said each area has said the rink is an overwhelming success, bringing shoppers and diners to downtown areas in the typically slow month of January. Whitener emphasized she has received a great interest from the community about the rink.

The city is planning to open the rink on November 14th to mark the beginning of the Light up Blue Ridge festivities.