[Vision2020] Ice Rink - Some light on why it is located at the Fairgrounds

[Chris Storhok]

A little history on why the rink is at the Fairgrounds and why it is the
size it is...
In 1999 when PIRA first met (then it was just a group of local hockey
players who were tired of driving to Spokane to play hockey) we examined
many different locations for an ice rink.  We inquired about using a
site near the current city pool/gym, this would have been the best since
excess heat off of the chiller could have been used to heat the pool
(and even the then future gym) and extend its season plus we would have
been able to share the parking lot and other common buildings but the
(former) director of Moscow Parks and Recreation was dead set against
us.

We then asked about the site next to West Park Elementary (the city old
pool).  This site was perfect as 1) we knew the university was going to
demolish their apartments and there are no other homes in the
neighborhood; 2)it is closer to Pullman, 3) there was more than
sufficient electrical service to the site, 4) the footprint perfectly
matched the old pool, 5) we could have reused the locker/changing rooms,
and finally 5) we could have shared the parking lot with West Park and
the softball fields...again the city said no.  (In my mind, this site
would still be a great location for the rink and I really hope that
someone on city council suggests this idea to PIRA/Rotary)  I was once
told by city staff that due to the LWCF designation of the property a
rink cannot be built there; however, I know that is wrong as LWCF funded
ice rink construction and allows indoor recreation facilities on LWCF
designated properties.  Here in Fairbanks the Big Dipper Ice Arena was
partially funded through LWCF money and we are now in the process of
building an indoor tennis facility adjacent to the rink.  Again another
excuse shot down.

Then we tried the Joseph Street property, again the city's answer was
no. This property would have been expensive to build on due to flood
issues, lack of infrastructure, etc. but would have mad4e a great site.

We looked at renovating the riding arena on North Polk, again, no.
Zoning shot us down there.

We looked at sites in Pullman (Pullman was still rather anti-everything
then as well) but nothing was available.

The Fairground option then came into existence when I had noticed that
one of the exhibit halls that were proposed for construction under a
plan to renovate the Fairgrounds was revealed to the public.  For those
of you new to Moscow, or may have forgotten by now, the County held a
special election in the Spring of 2000 to vote on renovating the
Fairgrounds.  The exact amount has slipped my mind but the overall plan
was to renovate the show barns, the commercial barns, exhibition hall,
and address some serious safety issues.  PIRA (Rotary was not involved
at this point) proposed to use one of the new exhibition buildings as an
ice rink during the winter.  The community rejected the entire
Fairgrounds renovation plan.   

But PIRA still needed a home and the Fairground still needed exhibition
space for the Fair, thus the County and PIRA agreed that locating the
rink on the Fairgrounds made a lot of sense.  So with volunteer labor,
generous donations, and a lot of support, PIRA, with financial help from
Rotary, moved forward in 2000 to build a rink.  The current design of
the rink was dictated by the Moscow Building/Planning Commission by
their rather inflexible read of Moscow City Code. We wanted to build a
full size rink but the city would have required fire sprinklers,
required PIRA to raise the floor well above flood plain as well as some
other rather expensive tasks.  So PIRA settled on the current tent-like
structure and up it went.  In the Spring of 2001 we opened the rink.  It
did not have a concrete floor, dasher boards, changing rooms or other
amenities.  It had pig-fencing around the ice. 
On opening day we invited the Moscow City Council to view what we knew
was going to be a major hit, as you know it was very successful.  The
City Council then decided that a rink is a great idea and offered PIRA
$165,000 of Hamilton money to be used for dasher boards, a floor, and
other improvements.  The Fair Board and the County Commissioners agreed
that the Fair grounds was a great location for the rink and that if the
rink could be used as exhibition space for the fair PIRA/Rotary could go
ahead and put in a more permanent rink.  Naturally PIRA/Rotary had
hurdles such as city regulations but we met everything asked of us and
by the fall of 2001 the rink was pretty much completed as it is today.
Unfortunately, excessive noise became an issue as the building and puck
noise really upset the neighbors (and it is loud) and thus began the
tit-for-tat game with the city planning commission and planning
department that has evolved into the mess you now have.  

One note, when I lasted talked with Davis Entertainment (Spring 2004),
the vendor who provides the rides to the fair they were cutting rides
back due to a lack of demand and not the presence of the ice rink.  They
actually liked the building as it helped funnel others who do not
usually play the games or ride the rides into the midst of their
operations.  If you want rides back at the Fair, make sure you ride what
is there but don't blame the ice rink. 

For those of you who still want to move the fair ground out of town, the
last study showed that moving to another location would cost anywhere
between $25 and $40 million; try and find that money.....
One other point, although the Whitman County fair grounds are great
during the fair they mostly sit empty the rest of the year, do tax
payers really want to fund a $25-$40 million complex that is used for
one week of the year?   What I really liked about the current site of
the Fair grounds is that the buildings are used by a variety of interest
groups, veterans, modal train enthusiasts, and so forth on a year round
basis.  

Chris Storhok  



 






-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com
[mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com] On Behalf Of david sarff
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 9:22 PM
To: kcraine at verizon.net; vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Ice Rink



Yes, I tend to agree. I like the rink, though wish it had not been built

where it is.
Could it be that the fair grounds is going to need another area in
oncoming 
years. Is it time we entertain additional plans? Something near the 
pre-settlement hoarse race track is flat and open. Do ag demonstrations
as 
they do at Colfax.
Not trying to be silly about tax moneys or private properties
though...its 
just an thought.
Dave


>
>A posting on behalf of my mother.
>
>Kit Craine
>
>ICE RINK
>
>It is time to stand back and really consider what is involved in
>Moscow's ice rink disagreement. Many of us agree that the ice rink is
>a great addition to the community-but only in a different location.
>
>The fairgrounds belongs to Latah County-not the City- and should be
>used for the benefit of all of  Latah county's residents. For many
>years the county fair has been used to recognize the achievements of
>the youth from the rural areas, provide an opportunity for city kids
>to share in these activities, and to bring all the county residents
>together in an atmosphere of fun and entertainment. By most
>standards, the fairgrounds was small and crowded but always had the
>mixture of exhibits, rides, and carnival activities which were
>exciting to all ages.
>
>In the last few years, the number of rides appealing to young adults
>has been cut back to accommodate the ice rink at its present size.
>Any expansion of the rink will mean the loss of more rides or
>activities. It is clear the ice rink must expand to survive. If
>expansion is at the fairgrounds, the fun and entertainment of a
>county fair will be squeezed out.
>
>The rural youth and their tax-paying, Moscow-shopping parents
>benefit little from the ice rink but do benefit from the county fair.
>If the City believes the ice rink must not be "lost," it should start
>finding ways to get it off county land and onto recreational space
>the City owns or arranges.
>
>Janet Craine
>
>
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