ASHMONT – The Hamlet of Ashmont will have an outdoor skating rink for the 2022-23 winter season after area Coun. Dale Hedrick brought the idea forward at the November County of St. Paul council meeting.
Hedrick requested the County Public Works staff clear a spot on a County-owned lot located at 4126-1st Ave in Ashmont. He requested the lot be flooded as a skating rink for the community to use.
During the Nov. 22 council meeting, CAO Sheila Kitz said the estimated cost for the project “is just under $700.”
“This is the same location we had a skating rink last year,” said Kitz, explaining many of the materials used last year have been stored over the summer and can be used again, saving the County money.
Council approved the request.
Hedrick told Lakeland This Week on Dec. 8 that the skating rink gives youth in the community an opportunity to go out and be active, “and have some fun – be kids.”
“So, we thought we’d make a quick little skating rink for them,” said Hedrick, explaining that the skating rink is open to everybody.
According to Hedrick, another reason he requested the flooding of the lot is that “not everybody can afford to take their kids and put them in hockey and stuff like that... So, this way, it’s free for them.”
Last year, Hedrick said people also donated used skates and helmets, accessible at ‘The Den,’ a restaurant located on Ashmont’s main street. He said kids that did not have ice skating gear could go to the restaurant and borrow helmets and skates before returning them.
When the lot was flooded last year, some smaller lights were put up to allow kids to skate in the dark. But “it wasn’t the greatest,” admits Hedrick.
This year, Hedrick says ATCO Electric will be installing “big lights” on existing poles to create visibility.
He also said the community would be taking care of maintaining the skating rink, just like last year when members of the community shoveled the snow to keep it usable.
“It’s the parents and the kids themselves that are actually shoveling the snow and it’s the same with this year,” said Hedrick.
The councillor says he hopes to one day see an outdoor multi-purpose recreation facility created in Ashmont that could also be used for summer sports and activities.
